When iron is combined with water under certain conditions, particularly as steam, a chemical reaction occurs. This reaction results in the formation of new substances: iron oxide and hydrogen gas.
The Reaction Between Iron and Water
The interaction between iron and water is a well-known chemical process. While iron rusts slowly in the presence of liquid water and oxygen, the reaction proceeds more vigorously when iron is heated and exposed to steam (gaseous water).
According to the provided reference:
The chemical equation for the reaction between iron and water is: 3 Fe ( s ) Iron + 4 H 2 O ( g ) → Fe 3 O 4 iron oxide ( s ) + 4 H 2 ( g ) hydrogen gas.
This equation represents the reaction of solid iron (Fe(s)) with gaseous water or steam (H₂O(g)).
Reactants and Products
Let's break down the components of this reaction:
- Reactants: These are the substances that react with each other.
- Iron (Fe): A solid metal.
- Water (H₂O): In this specific reaction, it is in its gaseous form (steam).
- Products: These are the substances that are formed as a result of the reaction.
- Iron Oxide (Fe₃O₄): A solid compound often referred to as magnetite.
- Hydrogen Gas (H₂): A gas released during the reaction.
Understanding the Chemical Equation
The equation 3 Fe ( s ) + 4 H₂O ( g ) → Fe₃O₄ ( s ) + 4 H₂ ( g ) tells us:
- Stoichiometry: 3 atoms (or moles) of solid iron react with 4 molecules (or moles) of gaseous water.
- Transformation: These reactants rearrange their atoms to form 1 molecule (or mole) of solid iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) and 4 molecules (or moles) of gaseous hydrogen.
This specific reaction demonstrates how a metal can react with water (as steam) at high temperatures to form a metal oxide and release hydrogen gas.
