Question

Fe+S8 =>??
Predicting products

Answer 1

what charge is the iron present (II or III)?

Answer 2

Assuming iron's charge is (II), and that you mean 8S for an easier time balancing with S.
Then the reaction of heating up iron + sulfur would be:
8Fe + 8S --> 8FeS
but simply coefficients would just be:
Fe + S --> FeS

Answer 3

@Sheng Thanks! I have another question. Do you mind answering?

Answer 4

go for it

Answer 5

In the equation, Na+N2, it predicts that Na3N is its unbalanced product. Why is there only one N in the product when there is 2 in the first equation? @Sheng

Answer 6

because it is "unbalanced"

Answer 7

What do you mean? @Sheng

Answer 8

What I mean is, when you first solve the equation, how do you come up with Na3N before balancing it?

Answer 9

Oh, nitrogen has an oxidation number of -3, while sodium has an oxidation number of +1
to make a neutral compound of sodium and nitrogen, you need 3 sodiums (+1x3) to balance with 1 nitrogen (-3) 3-3 = 0.

Answer 10

But how do you come up with 1 N in Na3N?
@Sheng

Answer 11

because the compound doesnt need another nitrogen, it's already satisfied the octet and is a neutral compound

Answer 12

Why do you get rid of the 2 from the N on the original equation? What happens to the 2?

Answer 13

ok to make this simpler to understand lets just take your unbalanced original equation and balance it:
Na + N2 --> Na3N (unbalanced) 2 nitrogens on 1 side, 1 on the other, 3sodiums on 1 side, 1 on the other
6Na + N2 --> 2Na3N
here you see, 6 sodiums on both sides, 2 nitrogens on both sides

Answer 14

Sorry for the stupid questions. This is really hard for me

Answer 15

@Sheng So the original equation already makes Nitrogen diatomic?

Answer 16

nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen are all diatomic elements
they will always exist in a diatomic form

Answer 17

Okay so the original equation already takes care of making it a diatomic ?

Answer 18

@Sheng

Answer 19

yes you'll only ever see N2 in equations when talking about just nitrogen