This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:
6 Br0 + 6 e- → 6 Br-I (reduction)
2 Fe0 - 6 e- → 2 FeIII (oxidation)
Br2 is an oxidizing agent, Fe is a reducing agent.
Word equation
bromine + iron → iron(III) bromide
Input interpretation
Br2 + Fe → Febr3
Bromine iron iron(III) bromide
Balanced equation
Balance the chemical equation algebraically:
Br2 + Fe → Febr3
Add stoichiometric coefficients, c,, to the reactants and products:
c1Br2 + c2 Fe → c3 Febr3
Set the number of atoms in the reactants equal to the number of atoms in the products for Br and Fe:
Br: 2c1 = 3c3
Fe: c2=c3
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=1
Multiply by the least common denominator, 2, to eliminate fractional coefficients:
c1 = 3
c2 = 2 c3 = 2
Substitute the coefficients into the chemical reaction to obtain the balanced
Equation:
Answer:
Br2 + Fe → Febr3