How do you balance CuCl_2 + Fe -> 2Cu + FeCl_2CuCl2+Fe2Cu+FeCl2?

1 Answer
Apr 21, 2018

Like this:

Explanation:

I'd start by looking at what is the most complicated and unbalanced, as we can see there is only 1 CuCu on the left hand side but there is two CuCu on the right side.
So add a 2 in front of CuCl_2CuCl2

2CuCl_2 + Fe ->2Cu+FeCl_22CuCl2+Fe2Cu+FeCl2

But now Chlorine is unbalanced on the left side, as we have 4 on the right, so add a 2 in front of FeCl_2FeCl2

2CuCl_2 + Fe ->2Cu+2FeCl_22CuCl2+Fe2Cu+2FeCl2

Finally balance for iron as that is the only thing left by adding a 2:

2CuCl_2 +2 Fe ->2Cu+2FeCl_22CuCl2+2Fe2Cu+2FeCl2

And now it is balanced!