Input interpretation
H_2SO_4 sulfuric acid + FeS_2 pyrite ⟶ H_2O water + SO_2 sulfur dioxide + Fe_2(SO_4)_3·xH_2O iron(III) sulfate hydrate
Balanced equation
Balance the chemical equation algebraically: H_2SO_4 + FeS_2 ⟶ H_2O + SO_2 + Fe_2(SO_4)_3·xH_2O Add stoichiometric coefficients, c_i, to the reactants and products: c_1 H_2SO_4 + c_2 FeS_2 ⟶ c_3 H_2O + c_4 SO_2 + c_5 Fe_2(SO_4)_3·xH_2O Set the number of atoms in the reactants equal to the number of atoms in the products for H, O, S and Fe: H: | 2 c_1 = 2 c_3 O: | 4 c_1 = c_3 + 2 c_4 + 12 c_5 S: | c_1 + 2 c_2 = c_4 + 3 c_5 Fe: | c_2 = 2 c_5 Since the coefficients are relative quantities and underdetermined, choose a coefficient to set arbitrarily. To keep the coefficients small, the arbitrary value is ordinarily one. For instance, set c_5 = 1 and solve the system of equations for the remaining coefficients: c_1 = 14 c_2 = 2 c_3 = 14 c_4 = 15 c_5 = 1 Substitute the coefficients into the chemical reaction to obtain the balanced equation: Answer: | | 14 H_2SO_4 + 2 FeS_2 ⟶ 14 H_2O + 15 SO_2 + Fe_2(SO_4)_3·xH_2O