Question

Write balanced equation for the following word equation :
\[Iron{ }+{ }Chlorine~\to ~Iron{ }\left( III \right){ }chloride~\]

Answer 1

Hint: A balanced chemical equation has an equal number of atoms on both sides of the equation.
The oxidation state of iron which is mentioned in the question, will help us determine that both sides of the equation have equal number of electronic exchanges, which is also a necessary criteria while balancing charged species.

Complete step by step answer:
A balanced equation or a balanced chemical equation, is a chemical equation, in which mass is conserved and the numbers of atoms of each element are equal on either side of the equation. For instance we can write a chemical equation involving the reaction of carbon with hydrogen gas in order to form methane.
$C(s)\, + \,{H_2}(g)\, \to \,C{H_4}(g)$
Here as you can see, methane contains one atom of carbon and four atoms of hydrogen. In order to balance the number of atoms of hydrogen, we write a coefficient $2$ in front of ${{H}_{2}}$ so that it becomes four hydrogen atoms. Now the solid carbon atom will combine with the gaseous hydrogen atom, to for methane gas.
A coefficient can be defined as a small whole number which is placed in front of a molecular formula in an equation so that we could balance it. The $2$ which is written in front of the ${{H}_{2}}$ indicates that there are a total of \[2\times 2=4~\]atoms of hydrogen which are present as reactants.
In order to write a balanced chemical equation, there are a set of rules which we are supposed to follow, those are given below.
At the beginning we determine the correct chemical formulas with which we will denote each reactant and product.
Now we write the skeleton equation, which means the unbalanced chemical equation.
Then we will count the number of atoms of every element which appears in the form of reactant as well as product.
Now finally we balance each element involved in the reaction, one at a time simply by placing coefficients in front of the formulas.
Then we will make sure that all coefficients which we have written are in the lowest possible ratio. And if necessary, reduce them to the lowest ratio.
The balanced chemical equation for \[Iron{ }+{ }Chlorine~\to ~Iron{ }\left( III \right){ }chloride~\] is
\[2Fe+3C{{l}_{2}}\to 2FeC{{l}_{3}}\]
Here two moles of iron reacts with two moles of chlorine gas in order to form iron trichloride. In order to balance this equation we balance the number of chlorine atoms first, so we write the coefficient three for the chlorine gas and two for the compound which is being formed. And finally we balance out the number of iron atoms on both sides by writing coefficient two, for the iron in its elemental form, or the iron which is present as the reactant.

Note: While writing the coefficients of a balanced chemical equation, we never write the coefficient one.
It is necessary to write the coefficients of the chemical equation as lowest possible ratio as it will provide a more clear detail, as to how many whole atoms are involved in the reaction.