Question

\({SnCl}_{4}+{Fe} \rightarrow {SnCl}_{2}+{FeCl}_{3}\)

Short answer

The balanced equation for the given chemical reaction is: \(4SnCl_{4} + 20Fe \rightarrow 4SnCl_{2} + 20FeCl_{3}\).

Step-by-step solution

Identify the unbalanced elements

First, let's identify which elements are not balanced in the given equation: \({SnCl}_{4}+{Fe} \rightarrow {SnCl}_{2}+{FeCl}_{3}\) In this equation, we can see that the numbers of tin (Sn), chlorine (Cl), and iron (Fe) atoms are not equal on both sides: - There are 1 Sn atom on the left side and 1 Sn atom on the right side - There are 4 Cl atoms on the left side and 5 Cl atoms on the right side - There is 1 Fe atom on the left side and 1 Fe atom on the right side Currently, Sn and Fe are balanced, but Cl is unbalanced.

Balance the Cl atoms

To balance the Cl atoms, find the least common multiple (LCM) of the numbers of Cl atoms on either side of the equation. In this case, the LCM for 4 and 5 is 20. Therefore, we need 20 Cl atoms on both sides. To get 20 Cl atoms on each side, multiply the compounds containing Cl by the necessary coefficients: \({2SnCl}_{4}+{Fe} \rightarrow {4SnCl}_{2}+{5FeCl}_{3}\) Now there are 20 Cl atoms on each side of the equation.

Check the balance of Sn and Fe atoms

Check the balance of the other atoms in the equation after multiplying the coefficients: \({2SnCl}_{4}+{Fe} \rightarrow {4SnCl}_{2}+{5FeCl}_{3}\) - Sn: There are 2 Sn atoms on the left side and 4 Sn atoms on the right side - Fe: There is 1 Fe atom on the left side and 5 Fe atoms on the right side Now, both Sn and Fe are unbalanced.

Balance the Sn atoms

To balance the Sn atoms, multiply the compounds containing Sn with the necessary coefficients: \({4SnCl}_{4}+{Fe} \rightarrow {4SnCl}_{2}+{5FeCl}_{3}\) Now there are 4 Sn atoms on each side of the equation.

Balance the Fe atoms

To balance the Fe atoms, multiply the compounds containing Fe with the necessary coefficients: \({4SnCl}_{4}+{20Fe} \rightarrow {4SnCl}_{2}+{20FeCl}_{3}\) Now there are 20 Fe atoms on each side of the equation.

Check the balance of all elements

Finally, check the balance of all elements in the equation: \({4SnCl}_{4}+{20Fe} \rightarrow {4SnCl}_{2}+{20FeCl}_{3}\) - Sn: There are 4 Sn atoms on the left side and 4 Sn atoms on the right side (balanced) - Cl: There are 20 Cl atoms on the left side and 20 Cl atoms on the right side (balanced) - Fe: There are 20 Fe atoms on the left side and 20 Fe atoms on the right side (balanced) All the elements are balanced, so the balanced equation is: \(4SnCl_{4} + 20Fe \rightarrow 4SnCl_{2} + 20FeCl_{3}\)

Key concepts

Chemical Reactions

Chemical reactions are processes where substances, called reactants, are transformed into new substances, known as products. These reactions involve the breaking and forming of chemical bonds, leading to changes in the arrangement of atoms. In our exercise, the chemical substances involved are tin tetrachloride (\(SnCl_{4}\)) and iron (\(Fe\)), which react to form tin dichloride (\(SnCl_{2}\)) and iron(III) chloride (\(FeCl_{3}\)).
During a reaction:

• Bonds in the reactant molecules are broken.
• Atoms are rearranged.
• New bonds form in the product molecules.

In this process, the composition of atoms changes, resulting in the formation of new chemical species.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the quantitative relationship between reactants and products in a chemical reaction. It provides ratios of how much of each substance is consumed or produced. These ratios are crucial for determining the coefficients needed in a balanced chemical equation. In our example:

• The coefficient 4 in front of \(SnCl_{4}\) indicates that 4 molecules of tin tetrachloride are needed.
• The coefficient 20 in front of \(Fe\) means that 20 atoms of iron are involved.
• The coefficients indicate that products formed are 4 molecules of tin dichloride and 20 molecules of iron(III) chloride.

Stoichiometry ensures that the quantities reflect the actual chemical reaction, preserving the ratio of substances according to the law of conservation of mass.

Chemical Equations

Chemical equations represent chemical reactions using symbols. They show:

• Reactants on the left side.
• Products on the right side.
• An arrow pointing from reactants to products, symbolizing the direction of the reaction.

Our exercise began with an unbalanced equation, \(SnCl_{4} + Fe \rightarrow SnCl_{2} + FeCl_{3}\). The stepwise process involved ensuring that the number of each type of atom on both sides is equal. This involved adjusting coefficients'
Consequently, the balanced equation is \(4SnCl_{4} + 20Fe \rightarrow 4SnCl_{2} + 20FeCl_{3}\). Balanced equations are essential for accurately describing chemical reactions and are critical in chemical analysis and industry applications.

Conservation of Mass

The law of conservation of mass states that mass in an isolated system remains constant, regardless of the processes acting inside the system. This principle applies to chemical reactions, meaning that the mass of the reactants equals the mass of the products. In our exercise, the law of conservation of mass was demonstrated by balancing the number and type of atoms on each side of the chemical equation.
Steps to ensure this include:

• Identifying elements that are unbalanced.
• Adjusting coefficients to balance each element.
• Rechecking to verify equality on both sides.

This means that all atoms present in the reactants must be accounted for among the products, signifying no mass loss or gain throughout the reaction.