Question

balance the following chemical equation:
fe(oh)3→fe2o3+h2o

Explanation:

Step1: Count atoms

Count the number of each atom on both sides of the equation.
For the un - balanced equation \(Fe(OH)_3
ightarrow Fe_2O_3 + H_2O\), on the left - hand side (LHS): \(1\) \(Fe\), \(3\) \(O\) (from \(OH\)) and \(3\) \(H\). On the right - hand side (RHS): \(2\) \(Fe\), \(4\) \(O\) (\(3\) from \(Fe_2O_3\) and \(1\) from \(H_2O\)) and \(2\) \(H\).

Step2: Balance Fe atoms

To balance \(Fe\) atoms, put a coefficient of \(2\) in front of \(Fe(OH)_3\). The equation becomes \(2Fe(OH)_3
ightarrow Fe_2O_3 + H_2O\). Now, LHS has \(2\) \(Fe\), \(6\) \(O\) (from \(OH\)) and \(6\) \(H\). RHS has \(2\) \(Fe\), \(4\) \(O\) (\(3\) from \(Fe_2O_3\) and \(1\) from \(H_2O\)) and \(2\) \(H\).

Step3: Balance H and O atoms

Since we have \(6\) \(H\) atoms on LHS (from \(2Fe(OH)_3\)), we need \(3\) \(H_2O\) on RHS to balance \(H\) atoms. The equation is \(2Fe(OH)_3
ightarrow Fe_2O_3+3H_2O\). Now, check \(O\) atoms: LHS has \(2\times3 = 6\) \(O\) atoms (from \(OH\)). RHS has \(3\) (from \(Fe_2O_3\)) \(+3\times1=3\) (from \(H_2O\)) \(=6\) \(O\) atoms.

Answer:

\(2Fe(OH)_3 = Fe_2O_3+3H_2O\)