Balance Fe + H₂O → Fe₃O₄ + H₂
3 Fe(s) + 4 H₂O(g) → Fe₃O₄(s) + 4 H₂(g)
Balance an equation
3Fe(s)+4H₂O(g)→Fe₃O₄(s)+4H₂(g)
Balanced
Atoms on each side
| Atom | As writtenleft : right | Balancedleft : right |
|---|---|---|
| Fe | 1:3 | 3:3 |
| H | 2:2 | 8:8 |
| O | 1:4 | 4:4 |
Check atoms
How to balance it, step by step
- Count the atoms of each element on both sides, as written.
- Start with the biggest formula, Fe₃O₄: put 1 in front of it.
- Fe: 3 on the right. Put 3 in front of Fe.
- O: 4 on the right. Put 4 in front of H₂O.
- H: 8 on the left. Put 4 in front of H₂ (4 × 2 = 8).
- Check: Fe 3 = 3, H 8 = 8, O 4 = 4. Balanced.
What happens
It is a redox reaction: one substance is oxidised while another is reduced. Red hot iron reacts with steam to give magnetic iron oxide, Fe₃O₄, and hydrogen gas. This is the first equation balanced step by step in the Class 10 book.
Iron and steam: quick answers
What is the balanced equation for iron and steam?
3 Fe(s) + 4 H₂O(g) → Fe₃O₄(s) + 4 H₂(g). The coefficients are 3, 4, 1 and 4. Each side then has 3 Fe, 8 H and 4 O.
What type of reaction is iron and steam?
It is a redox reaction: one substance is oxidised while another is reduced. Red hot iron reacts with steam to give magnetic iron oxide, Fe₃O₄, and hydrogen gas. This is the first equation balanced step by step in the Class 10 book.
How do you balance Fe + H₂O → Fe₃O₄ + H₂?
Start with the biggest formula, Fe₃O₄: put 1 in front of it. Fe: 3 on the right. Put 3 in front of Fe. O: 4 on the right. Put 4 in front of H₂O. H: 8 on the left. Put 4 in front of H₂ (4 × 2 = 8). Never change a subscript, because that would change the substance.