Use the equation and the table to answer the question.


FeCl3 + 3H2O → Fe(OH)3 + 3HCl

Element Mass of an Atom (amu)
Fe 56
Cl 35
H 1
O 16
Iron chloride and water react according to the equation shown. The table shows the atomic masses of the elements involved in the reaction. What is the total mass of the reactants?

(1 point)
Responses

215 amu
215 amu

179 amu
179 amu

161 amu
161 amu

108 amu

1 answer

To calculate the total mass of the reactants in the given reaction \( \text{FeCl}_3 + 3\text{H}_2\text{O} \), we first need to determine the mass of each component in the reactants based on the provided atomic masses.

  1. Calculating the mass of \( \text{FeCl}_3 \):

    • The mass of iron (\( \text{Fe} \)) = 56 amu
    • The mass of chlorine (\( \text{Cl} \)) = 35 amu
    • Since there are 3 chlorine atoms in \( \text{FeCl}_3 \):
      • \( \text{Mass of } \text{Cl}_3 = 3 \times 35 = 105 , \text{amu} \)

    Total mass of \( \text{FeCl}_3 \): \[ \text{Mass of } \text{FeCl}_3 = \text{mass of Fe} + \text{mass of Cl}_3 = 56 + 105 = 161 , \text{amu} \]

  2. Calculating the mass of \( 3\text{H}_2\text{O} \):

    • The mass of hydrogen (\( \text{H} \)) = 1 amu
    • Since there are 2 hydrogen atoms in water and 3 water molecules:
      • Total hydrogen mass in \( 3\text{H}_2\text{O} = 3 \times 2 = 6 , \text{H atoms} \)
      • \( \text{Mass of } 6\text{H} = 6 \times 1 = 6 , \text{amu} \)
    • The mass of oxygen (\( \text{O} \)) = 16 amu
    • There is 1 oxygen atom in each water molecule and 3 water molecules:
      • Total oxygen mass in \( 3\text{H}_2\text{O} = 3 \times 16 = 48 , \text{amu} \)

    Total mass of \( 3\text{H}_2\text{O} \): \[ \text{Mass of } 3\text{H}_2\text{O} = \text{mass of H}_6 + \text{mass of O}_3 = 6 + 48 = 54 , \text{amu} \]

  3. Total mass of the reactants \( \text{FeCl}_3 + 3\text{H}_2\text{O} \): \[ \text{Total mass} = \text{mass of } \text{FeCl}_3 + \text{mass of } 3\text{H}_2\text{O} = 161 + 54 = 215 , \text{amu} \]

The total mass of the reactants is 215 amu.

Therefore, the correct response is: 215 amu.