Balance FeSO₄ → Fe₂O₃ + SO₂ + SO₃
2 FeSO₄(s) → Fe₂O₃(s) + SO₂(g) + SO₃(g)
Balance an equation
2FeSO₄(s)→Fe₂O₃(s)+SO₂(g)+SO₃(g)
Balanced
Atoms on each side
| Atom | As writtenleft : right | Balancedleft : right |
|---|---|---|
| Fe | 1:2 | 2:2 |
| S | 1:2 | 2:2 |
| O | 4:8 | 8:8 |
Check atoms
How to balance it, step by step
- Count the atoms of each element on both sides, as written.
- This one needs two coefficients at once, so write a letter for each: a FeSO₄, b Fe₂O₃, c SO₂, d SO₃.
- Fe: a = 2b
- S: a = c + d
- O: 4a = 3b + 2c + 3d
- Solve, keeping the smallest whole numbers: a = 2, b = 1, c = 1, d = 1.
- Check: Fe 2 = 2, S 2 = 2, O 8 = 8. Balanced.
What happens
It is a decomposition reaction: one substance breaks down into simpler ones. Green ferrous sulphate crystals lose water and then break down into ferric oxide and the gases sulphur dioxide and sulphur trioxide, with a smell of burning sulphur.
Heating ferrous sulphate: quick answers
What is the balanced equation for heating ferrous sulphate?
2 FeSO₄(s) → Fe₂O₃(s) + SO₂(g) + SO₃(g). The coefficients are 2, 1, 1 and 1. Each side then has 2 Fe, 2 S and 8 O.
What type of reaction is heating ferrous sulphate?
It is a decomposition reaction: one substance breaks down into simpler ones. Green ferrous sulphate crystals lose water and then break down into ferric oxide and the gases sulphur dioxide and sulphur trioxide, with a smell of burning sulphur.
How do you balance FeSO₄ → Fe₂O₃ + SO₂ + SO₃?
This one needs two coefficients at once, so write a letter for each: a FeSO₄, b Fe₂O₃, c SO₂, d SO₃. Fe: a = 2b S: a = c + d O: 4a = 3b + 2c + 3d Solve, keeping the smallest whole numbers: a = 2, b = 1, c = 1, d = 1. Never change a subscript, because that would change the substance.