Reservations about a certain reaction.

[jfhorns7853]

So basically I have some doubts about a chemical reaction.
Supposedly
NaClO + CH₃COOH + Fe $$\Rightarrow$$ Fe₂O₃ + Cl₂ + H₂O
Not balanced. Also, I know that the acetic acid is there only to make the solution acidic, just bear with me.

I don't believe this to be true because I don't see a precipitate of ferric oxide. However, ferric chloride would make sense, and the red-ox reactions for THAT make sense.
2Fe + 3ClO^- + 6H⁺ $$\rightarrow$$ 2Fe³⁺ +3Cl^- + 3H₂O
Maybe I'm just wrong? haha Anybody want to help?

 

[Zefram]

Thank you for sharing your doubts about the chemical reaction in question. It is always important to question and verify information, especially when it comes to chemical reactions.

Firstly, you are correct in noticing that the given reaction is not balanced. In order for a chemical reaction to accurately represent what is happening, it must be balanced, meaning that the number of each type of atom on the reactant side must be equal to the number on the product side.

Secondly, your observation about the lack of a precipitate of ferric oxide is also valid. In order for a precipitate to form, there must be a reaction that results in the formation of an insoluble solid. In this case, the reaction as written does not produce ferric oxide as a solid product.

However, as you have suggested, the formation of ferric chloride does make sense in this situation. This is because when iron reacts with chlorine, it forms different oxidation states of iron, including Fe3+. In addition, the presence of acetic acid would indeed make the solution acidic, which can affect the redox reactions involved.

In conclusion, it appears that the given reaction is not entirely accurate and may need to be revised. Your proposed reaction involving ferric chloride and the redox reactions for that do seem to make more sense. Keep questioning and investigating, as it is through this process that we can better understand and improve our understanding of chemical reactions. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.