what happens when you mix iron and sulpher?
When iron and sulfur are mixed together, a chemical reaction occurs, resulting in the formation of a compound called iron sulfide. This reaction is commonly known as the iron-sulfur reaction.
To understand what happens during this reaction, we need to know the chemical formulas of iron and sulfur. Iron is represented by the symbol Fe, while sulfur is represented by the symbol S.
The balanced chemical equation for the reaction between iron and sulfur is:
Fe + S -> FeS
Here's how you can determine the products of this reaction:
1. Identify the reactants: In this case, the reactants are iron (Fe) and sulfur (S).
2. Determine the valence of each element: Iron has a valence of +2, while sulfur has a valence of -2.
3. Balance the charges: Since iron has a valence of +2 and sulfur has a valence of -2, it takes two sulfur atoms to balance one iron atom.
4. Write the chemical formula for the product: The product of this reaction is iron sulfide (FeS), which consists of one iron atom bonded to two sulfur atoms.
So, when you mix iron and sulfur, they react to form iron sulfide (FeS), which is a grayish-black compound with a metallic luster.