Question

A chemical equation is displayed.
4FeS + 7O2 → 2Fe2O3 + 4SO2
Which statement accurately describes the chemical equation?
A. It is balanced because the mass of the reactants equals the mass of the products.
B. It is balanced because the total coefficients of the reactants are greater than the total coefficients of the products.
C. It is unbalanced because the mass of the reactants exceeds the mass of the products.
D. It is unbalanced because the sum of the coefficients of the reactants exceeds the sum of the coefficients of the products.

Answer 1

The correct statement that accurately describes the given chemical equation \( 4FeS + 7O_2 → 2Fe_2O_3 + 4SO_2 \) is:

**A. It is balanced because the mass of the reactants equals the mass of the products.**

This is true because, in a balanced chemical equation, the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation, ensuring that the mass is conserved according to the law of conservation of mass. In this case, both sides consist of the same number of each type of atom, making it balanced.