Question

Balance the following reactions:
 $ Fe + {H_2}O \to F{e_3}{O_4} + {H_2} \uparrow $

Answer 1

Hint: A balanced equation is an equation in which the number of atoms of each element are equal on the reactant side and product side. It always follows the law of conservation of mass and electrical neutrality is always maintained. We know from the law of conservation of mass states that mass can neither be created nor destroyed.

Complete step by step solution
The law of conservation of mass proposes that the mass must always remain constant and unchanged during a chemical reaction. Since we know that in a balanced equation, the amounts of all elements and compounds are same on both sides of the reaction, it also implies that the mass of the overall process is conserved. Thus, we can conclude by saying that a balanced chemical equation is balanced in accordance with the law of conservation of mass.
We are given the equation, $ Fe + {H_2}O \to F{e_3}{O_4} + {H_2} \uparrow $
First, we balance the number of iron atoms, we get,
 $ 3Fe + {H_2}O \to F{e_3}{O_4} + {H_2} $
Balancing, he number of hydrogen and oxygen atoms, we get the balanced chemical equation as,
 $ 3Fe + 4{H_2}O \to F{e_3}{O_4} + 4{H_2} $ .

Note
In chemical reactions, chemicals combine in certain fixed ratios for the formation of a chemical compound. Since, it is known that matter can neither be created nor destroyed, nor can any element be transfused into another element on course of a chemical reaction, therefore, the amount of each element before the reaction must be the same to that after the reaction. In other words, we can say that the number of atoms of any element on the reactant side will always be equal to the number of atoms of that element in the product side of the reaction.