Select the correct answer.

Iron reacts with atmospheric oxygen to form iron oxide or ferric oxide. Look at the chemical equation for this reaction:

[tex]\[ Fe + O_2 \rightarrow Fe_2O_3 \][/tex]

This equation is unbalanced. Which of the following is the correct balanced equation for this reaction?

A. [tex]\[ 4Fe + 3O_2 \rightarrow 2Fe_2O_3 \][/tex]

B. [tex]\[ 3Fe + 4O_2 \rightarrow 2Fe_2O_3 \][/tex]

C. [tex]\[ 2Fe + 4O_2 \rightarrow 3Fe_2O_3 \][/tex]

D. [tex]\[ 3Fe + 3O_2 \rightarrow 4Fe_2O_3 \][/tex]

E. [tex]\[ 4Fe + 4O_2 \rightarrow 3Fe_2O_3 \][/tex]



Answer :

To balance the chemical equation
[tex]\[ Fe + O_2 \rightarrow Fe_2O_3, \][/tex]
we need to ensure the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation. We will consider each provided option and check whether it balances the atoms of iron (Fe) and oxygen (O).

### Option A: [tex]\( 4 Fe + 3 O_2 \rightarrow 2 Fe_2O_3 \)[/tex]

Left Side:
- Iron atoms: [tex]\( 4 \)[/tex] Fe
- Oxygen atoms: [tex]\( 3 \times 2 = 6 \)[/tex] O

Right Side:
- Iron atoms: [tex]\( 2 \times 2 = 4 \)[/tex] Fe
- Oxygen atoms: [tex]\( 2 \times 3 = 6 \)[/tex] O

Both iron and oxygen atoms are balanced with 4 Fe and 6 O on each side.

### Option B: [tex]\( 3 Fe + 4 O_2 \rightarrow 2 Fe_2O_3 \)[/tex]

Left Side:
- Iron atoms: [tex]\( 3 \)[/tex] Fe
- Oxygen atoms: [tex]\( 4 \times 2 = 8 \)[/tex] O

Right Side:
- Iron atoms: [tex]\( 2 \times 2 = 4 \)[/tex] Fe
- Oxygen atoms: [tex]\( 2 \times 3 = 6 \)[/tex] O

Iron and oxygen atoms are not balanced; the counts do not match.

### Option C: [tex]\( 2 Fe + 4 O_2 \rightarrow 3 Fe_2O_3 \)[/tex]

Left Side:
- Iron atoms: [tex]\( 2 \)[/tex] Fe
- Oxygen atoms: [tex]\( 4 \times 2 = 8 \)[/tex] O

Right Side:
- Iron atoms: [tex]\( 3 \times 2 = 6 \)[/tex] Fe
- Oxygen atoms: [tex]\( 3 \times 3 = 9 \)[/tex] O

Iron and oxygen atoms are not balanced; the counts do not match.

### Option D: [tex]\( 3 Fe + 3 O_2 \rightarrow 4 Fe_2O_3 \)[/tex]

Left Side:
- Iron atoms: [tex]\( 3 \)[/tex] Fe
- Oxygen atoms: [tex]\( 3 \times 2 = 6 \)[/tex] O

Right Side:
- Iron atoms: [tex]\( 4 \times 2 = 8 \)[/tex] Fe
- Oxygen atoms: [tex]\( 4 \times 3 = 12 \)[/tex] O

Iron and oxygen atoms are not balanced; the counts do not match.

### Option E: [tex]\( 4 Fe + 4 O_2 \rightarrow 3 Fe_2O_3 \)[/tex]

Left Side:
- Iron atoms: [tex]\( 4 \)[/tex] Fe
- Oxygen atoms: [tex]\( 4 \times 2 = 8 \)[/tex] O

Right Side:
- Iron atoms: [tex]\( 3 \times 2 = 6 \)[/tex] Fe
- Oxygen atoms: [tex]\( 3 \times 3 = 9 \)[/tex] O

Iron and oxygen atoms are not balanced; the counts do not match.

### Conclusion
Only option A [tex]\( 4 Fe + 3 O_2 \rightarrow 2 Fe_2O_3 \)[/tex] correctly balances the chemical equation. Therefore, the correct balanced equation for the reaction is:

[tex]\[ \boxed{4 Fe + 3 O_2 \rightarrow 2 Fe_2O_3} \][/tex]

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