Question

Write word equations and then balanced equations for the reaction taking place when

Dilute hydrochloric acid reacts with iron filings.

Answer 1

Iron filings react with dilute hydrochloric acid:

• When dilute hydrochloric acid reacts with iron fillings, it produces Ferrous chloride or Iron(II) chloride (${\mathrm{FeCl}}_2$) and hydrogen gas (${\mathrm{H}}_2$).
• The word equation can be written as: $\mathrm{Dilute}\mathrm{Hydrochloric}\mathrm{acid}+\mathrm{Iron}\to \mathrm{Iron}\left(\mathrm{II}\right)\mathrm{chloride}+\mathrm{Hydrogen}\mathrm{gas}$
• It is an example of a displacement reaction in which iron being more reactive displaces hydrogen from dilute Hydrochloric acid.

Balanced reaction:

• The balanced reaction is as follows:
• $\underset{\mathrm{Hydrochloric}\mathrm{acid}\left(\mathrm{dilute}\right)}{2\mathrm{HCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Iron}}{\mathrm{Fe}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Iron}\left(\mathrm{II}\right)\mathrm{chloride}}{{\mathrm{FeCl}}_2\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Hydrogen}}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$