Question

like hydrogen, iron will also chemically react with oxygen to produce a new compound. the diagram below shows the solid iron (fe) and oxygen gas (o₂) that react to create iron oxide (fe₂o₃).
which model shows how these atoms rearrange to create the product iron oxide (fe₂o₃)?

Explanation:

Step1: Count the number of Fe and O atoms in reactants

• There are 4 Fe atoms (2 pairs of Fe - Fe) and 6 O atoms (3 pairs of O - O).

Step2: Analyze the formula of Fe₂O₃

• In Fe₂O₃, the ratio of Fe to O is 2:3.
• For 4 Fe atoms, the number of O atoms needed is \(4\times\frac{3}{2}=6\) (based on the ratio from the formula \(Fe_2O_3\)).
• Option A has 4 Fe atoms and 6 O atoms arranged as 2 units of \(Fe_2O_3\) (since each \(Fe_2O_3\) has 2 Fe and 3 O, 2 units will have 4 Fe and 6 O).

Answer:

A.