When iron rusts, solid iron reacts with gaseous oxygen to form solid iron(iii) oxide. part a write a balanced chemical equation for this reaction?

The balanced chemical equation for the reaction between the iron and oxygen to produce iron (iii) oxide is:

Chemical equation is a representation of chemical reaction with symbols and formula of the reactants and products taking part in the reaction.

All chemical equation must be balanced in order to validate the law of conservation of matter which states that matter can neither be created nor destroyed during a chemical reaction but can be transferred from one form to another.

NOTE: An unbalanced equation simply means matter has been created or destroyed.

The equation for the reaction between iron and oxygen to produce iron (iii) oxide is given below:

Fe(s) + O₂(g) —> Fe₂O₃(s)

The above equation can be balance as follow:

Fe(s) + O₂(g) —> Fe₂O₃(s)

There are 2 atoms of O on the left side and 3 atoms on the right side. It can be balance by writing 3 before O₂ and 2 before Fe₂O₃ as shown below:

Fe(s) + 3O₂(g) —> 2Fe₂O₃(s)

There are 4 atoms of Fe on the right side and 1 atom on the left side. It can be balance by writing 4 before Fe as shown below:

4Fe(s) + 3O₂(g) —> 2Fe₂O₃(s)

Therefore, the balanced equation for the reaction between iron and oxygen to produce iron (iii) oxide is

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