Use the chemical reaction to answer the question.

Question

Use the chemical reaction to answer the question.

4Fe+3O2→2Fe2O34Fe+3O2→2Fe2O3
What happens to atoms of Fe and O2 during the reaction?
• They are rearranged.
• They gain mass.
• They are lost.
• They maintain their properties.

Answer 1

During the chemical reaction 4Fe + 3O2 → 2Fe2O3, the atoms of Fe and O2 undergo a rearrangement. This means that the atoms are not lost or gained, but rather their positions and connections change to form the product, Fe2O3. Atoms are the building blocks of matter and are neither created nor destroyed during a chemical reaction, according to the Law of Conservation of Mass. Therefore, the total number of Fe atoms and O2 molecules before the reaction is equal to the total number of Fe and O atoms in the product after the reaction. In summary, the atoms of Fe and O2 maintain their properties but are rearranged to form Fe2O3.