Question

How do you balance $MgO + Fe \to F{e_2}{O_3} + Mg$

Answer 1

Hint: In a balanced chemical equation, the number of atoms present in the left side of the reaction (reactant side) and the number of atoms present in the right side of reaction (product side) is equal.

Complete step by step answer:
When one or more than one chemical reactant combines with each other to form a new product is called a chemical reaction. The chemical equation is defined as the symbolic representation of the chemical reaction, where the whole chemical reaction is represented with the help of symbols and formulae. In chemical equations the reactants are placed in the left side of the reaction and the product is written in the right side of the reaction.
The chemical equation is given below.
$MgO + Fe \to F{e_2}{O_3} + Mg$
In this reaction, magnesium oxide reacts with iron (III) oxide and magnesium.
The balanced chemical equation is defined as the equation where the number of moles of reactant and the number of moles of product are same.
The given chemical equation is not balanced as the number of moles on the reactant side is not the same as the number of moles on the product side.

Name of atom	Number in reactant side	Number in product side
Mg	1	1
O	1	3
Fe	1	2

To balance the equation multiply $MgO$ with 3 and Fe with 2 in the reactant side and Mg in the product side with 3
The balanced chemical equation is shown below.
$3MgO + 2Fe \to F{e_2}{O_3} + 3Mg$

Name of atom	Number in reactant side	Number in product side
Mg	3	3
O	3	3
Fe	2	2

Note:
Multiply the equation with such a whole number by which the number of atoms on both sides of the equation becomes equal. The balanced chemical equation follows the law of conservation of mass.