Consider the following chemical reaction :
aFe₂O₃(s) + bCO(g) → cFe(s) + dCO₂
In the balanced chemical equation of the above, which of the following will be the values of the coefficients a, b, c and d respectively?
3, 2, 3, 1
1, 3, 2, 3
2, 3, 3, 1
3, 3, 2, 1
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2018
– Fe: 2a = c
– O: 3a + b = 2d
– C: b = d
Substituting b=d into the oxygen balance: 3a + d = 2d, which gives 3a = d.
So we have the relationships: c = 2a, b = 3a, d = 3a.
To find the smallest integer coefficients, we can set a=1.
Then, b = 3(1) = 3, c = 2(1) = 2, d = 3(1) = 3.
The coefficients are a=1, b=3, c=2, d=3. This corresponds to option B.
– Coefficients represent the relative number of molecules or moles involved in the reaction.
– Balancing is achieved by using stoichiometric coefficients in front of the chemical formulas.