How do you balance the chemical equation ___FeCL3+___Na)H=>___Fe(OH)3+_____NaCL

Question

How do i do this? What numbers do i put, how do i know what to put?

Answer 1

____FeCl₃ + ____NaOH → ____Fe(OH)₃ + ____NaCl

 

Goal: to have an equal number and types of atoms on the reactant (left-hand) side as there are on the product (right-hand) side

 

Step 1: Take stock of the number of each type of ion on both the left-hand and right-hand sides.

 

         Left-hand    Right-hand

Fe      1                    1

Cl      3                     1

Na     1                     1

OH    1                     3

 

Step 2: Since there are 3 Cl atoms on the left, we would need a coefficient of 3 for the Cl-containing compound on the right-hand side of the equation.

 

Step 3: Take stock again          Left-hand    Right-hand

                                      Fe         1                  1

                                      Cl          3                  3

                                      Na         1                   3

                                      OH         1                   3

 

Step 4: Next balance Na by putting a coefficient of 3 for NaOH.

 

Step 5: Take stock again                 Left-hand    Right-hand

                                       Fe           1                  1

                                       Cl            3                  3

                                        Na          3                  3

                                        OH          3                  3

 

Balanced equation:  

 

                               FeCl3 + 3NaOH → Fe(OH)3 + 3NaCl

Answer 2

The first thing to note is that the second compound should  be NaOH.

 

The OH group (hydroxide) stays together, so you should keep track of it as a unit, not as separate O and H.

 

You need a 3 in front of the NaOH to balance up the OH groups (three on each side).   This forces a 3 to be the coefficient of the NaCl.    That about does it.