FeCl3 + NaOH → Fe (OH) 3 + NaCl

FeCl₃ + 3NaOH → Fe (OH) ₃ + 3NaCl

Explanation:

You are given a skeleton equation, or unbalanced equation.

FeCl₃ + NaOH → Fe (OH) ₃ + NaCl

Count the number of atoms on each side. If there is 1 atom, the subscript is not written. If the subscript to the right of a bracket, it belongs to each element in the bracket.

Reactants → Products

Fe 1 Fe 1

Cl 3 Cl 1 Not balanced

Na 1 Na 1

O 1 O 3 Not balanced

H 1 H 3 Not balanced

The number of each element must be the same in the reactants and products. We can see that Cl (chlorine), O (oxygen) and H (hydrogen) have different numbers.

Write in coefficients in front of formulas (separated by + sign). Coefficients multiply each subscript (or "1" if not written) in the formula. Recount the atoms until you have equal reactant and product atom numbers.

I see that I need more chlorine in my products. Multiply the formula that has "Cl" by 3.

FeCl₃ + NaOH → Fe (OH) ₃ + 3NaCl

Reactants → Products

Fe 1 Fe 1

Cl 3 Cl 3 Cl is balanced now.

Na 1 Na 3 Not balanced

O 1 O 3 Not balanced

H 1 H 3 Not balanced

Fix the "Na" now. Multiply the formula with "Na" on the left by 3.

FeCl₃ + 3NaOH → Fe (OH) ₃ + 3NaCl

Reactants → Products

Fe 1 Fe 1

Cl 3 Cl 3

Na 3 Na 3

O 3 O 3

H 3 H 3

Each side has the same number of each element. Therefore, this is balanced now.

Balanced formula:

FeCl₃ + 3NaOH → Fe (OH) ₃ + 3NaCl