Question

Given the unbalanced equation: Fe2O3 + CO --> Fe + CO2, when the equation is correctly balanced using the smallest, whole number coefficients, what is the coefficient of CO?

Answer 1

Answer : The balanced chemical reaction will be,

$Fe_2O_3+3CO\rightarrow 2Fe+3CO_2$

The coefficient of CO is, 3

Explanation :

Balanced chemical reaction : It is defined as the reaction in which the number of atoms of individual elements present on reactant side must be equal to the product side.

If the amount of atoms of each type on the left and right sides of a reaction differs then to balance the equation by adding coefficient in the front of the elements or molecule or compound in the chemical equation.

The coefficient tell us about that how many molecules or atoms present in the chemical equation.

The unbalanced chemical reaction is,

$Fe_2O_3+CO\rightarrow Fe+CO_2$

This reaction is an unbalanced chemical reaction because in this reaction number of iron and oxygen atoms are not balanced.

In order to balance the chemical equation, the coefficient '2' put before the $Fe$ and the coefficient '3' put before the $CO\text{ and }CO_2$ we get the balanced chemical equation.

The balanced chemical reaction will be,

$Fe_2O_3+3CO\rightarrow 2Fe+3CO_2$

Thus, the coefficient of CO is, 3

Answer 2

Fe2O3+3CO----->2Fe+3CO2
so the coefficient of CO is 3