Question

write a balanced chemical equation based on the following description: aqueous iron(iii) chloride reacts with aqueous ammonium sulfide to produce aqueous ammonium chloride and solid iron(iii) sulfide fecl₃(aq) + (nh₄)₂s(aq) →

Explanation:

Step1: Write the unbalanced chemical equation

Based on the description, the unbalanced equation is \(FeCl_{3}(aq)+(NH_{4})_{2}S(aq)\to NH_{4}Cl(aq)+Fe_{2}S_{3}(s)\)

Step2: Balance the iron atoms

There is 1 \(Fe\) atom on the left - hand side and 2 \(Fe\) atoms on the right - hand side. So, put a coefficient of 2 in front of \(FeCl_{3}\): \(2FeCl_{3}(aq)+(NH_{4})_{2}S(aq)\to NH_{4}Cl(aq)+Fe_{2}S_{3}(s)\)

Step3: Balance the sulfur atoms

There is 1 \(S\) atom on the left - hand side and 3 \(S\) atoms on the right - hand side. So, put a coefficient of 3 in front of \((NH_{4})_{2}S\): \(2FeCl_{3}(aq)+3(NH_{4})_{2}S(aq)\to NH_{4}Cl(aq)+Fe_{2}S_{3}(s)\)

Step4: Balance the chlorine atoms

There are 6 \(Cl\) atoms on the left - hand side (from \(2FeCl_{3}\)). So, put a coefficient of 6 in front of \(NH_{4}Cl\): \(2FeCl_{3}(aq)+3(NH_{4})_{2}S(aq)\to6NH_{4}Cl(aq)+Fe_{2}S_{3}(s)\)

Step5: Check the balance of ammonium \((NH_{4})\) groups

On the left - hand side, from \(3(NH_{4})_{2}S\), there are \(3\times2 = 6\) \(NH_{4}\) groups. On the right - hand side, from \(6NH_{4}Cl\), there are 6 \(NH_{4}\) groups.

Answer:

\(2FeCl_{3}(aq)+3(NH_{4})_{2}S(aq)\to6NH_{4}Cl(aq)+Fe_{2}S_{3}(s)\)