Iron reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl) to produce iron chloride solution (specifically, iron(II) chloride, FeCl₂) and hydrogen gas (H₂).
Here's a breakdown of the reaction:
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Reactants:
- Iron (Fe): A metallic element.
- Dilute Hydrochloric Acid (HCl): An aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride gas.
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Products:
- Iron(II) Chloride (FeCl₂): An iron chloride solution.
- Hydrogen Gas (H₂): A flammable gas.
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Chemical Equation:
Fe(s) + 2HCl(aq) → FeCl₂(aq) + H₂(g)
- (s) denotes solid
- (aq) denotes aqueous solution
- (g) denotes gas
Explanation:
The hydrochloric acid provides hydrogen ions (H⁺) which react with the iron atoms. The iron atoms lose two electrons each to form iron(II) ions (Fe²⁺), which then combine with chloride ions (Cl⁻) from the hydrochloric acid to form iron(II) chloride (FeCl₂) in solution. The electrons lost by the iron atoms are gained by the hydrogen ions to form hydrogen gas.
Important Considerations:
- The reaction produces iron(II) chloride (FeCl₂), not iron(III) chloride (FeCl₃), because the hydrogen gas produced acts as a reducing agent, preventing the iron from being oxidized to its +3 state.
- Concentrated hydrochloric acid will also react with iron, but the rate of reaction may be different.
- Other acids might also react with iron, but the question specifically asks about the production of iron chloride solution, making hydrochloric acid the primary answer.
