This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:
3 Mg0 - 6 e- → 3 MgII (oxidation)
3 NV + 3 e- → 3 NIV (reduction)
FeIII + 3 e- → Fe0 (reduction)
Mg is a reducing agent, Fe(NO3)3 is an oxidizing agent, Fe(NO3)3 is an oxidizing agent.
Word equation
magnesium + ferric nitrate → magnesium nitrate + iron
Input interpretation
Mg + Fe(NO3)3 → Mg(NO3)2 + Fe
Magnesium ferric nitrate magnesium nitrate iron
Balanced equation
Balance the chemical equation algebraically:
Mg + Fe(NO3)3 → Mg(NO3)2 + Fe
Add stoichiometric coefficients, c;, to the reactants and products:
c1 Mg + c2 Fe(NO3)3 → c3 Mg(NO3)2 + c4 Fe
Set the number of atoms in the reactants equal to the number of atoms in the products for Mg, Fe, N and O:
Mg: c1=c3
Fe: c2=c4
N: 3c2=2c3
0: 9c2=6c3
Since the coefficients are relative quantities and underdetermined, choose a coefficient to set arbitrarily. To keep the coefficients small, the arbitrary value is ordinarily one. For instance, set c2 = 1 and solve the system of equations for the remaining coefficients:
c1 = 3/2 c2 = 1
c3 = 3/2 c4 = 1
Multiply by the least common denominator, 2, to eliminate fractional coefficients:
c1 = 3 c2 = 2
c3 = 3 c4 = 2
Substitute the coefficients into the chemical reaction to obtain the balanced equation:
Answer:
Mg + Fe(NO3)3 → Mg(NO3)2 + Fe
