Potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) is an oxidizing agent, while iron (Fe) is a reducing agent. When KSCN and Fe react, an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction takes place:

3 KI + 3 e- → 3 K0 (reduction)

Fe0 - 3 e- → FeIII (oxidation)

Word equation:

potassium thiocyanate + iron → iron(III) thiocyanate + potassium

To write a balanced chemical equation, we must add stoichiometric coefficients to the reactants and products. Let's use the following variables for the coefficients:

Balanced equation:

c1 KSCN + c2Fe → c3C3N3S3Fe + c4K

We must set the number of atoms in the reactants equal to the number of atoms in the products for carbon (C), potassium (K), nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), and iron (Fe):

C: c1 = 3c3

K: c1 = c4

N: c1 = 3c3

S: c1 = 3c3

Fe: c2 = c3

Since the coefficients are relative quantities and underdetermined, we choose an arbitrary value to keep the coefficients small. In this case, we'll set c2 = 1 and solve the system of equations for the remaining coefficients:

c1 = 3

c2 = 1

c3 = 1

c4 = 3

Substituting these coefficients into the chemical reaction, we get the balanced equation:

KSCN + Fe → C3N3S3Fe + K

This balanced chemical equation is essential for accurately predicting the products and amounts of reactants needed in chemical reactions involving KSCN and Fe. Understanding the chemical properties of KSCN and Fe is critical for professionals in the fields of chemistry, biochemistry, and materials science.