FeSO₄(aq) + 2NaOH(aq) → Fe(OH)₂(s) + Na₂SO₄(aq)
Here's a breakdown:
* FeSO₄(aq): Iron(II) sulfate is dissolved in water (aqueous).
* NaOH(aq): Sodium hydroxide is dissolved in water (aqueous).
* Fe(OH)₂(s): Iron(II) hydroxide is formed as a solid precipitate.
* Na₂SO₄(aq): Sodium sulfate remains dissolved in water (aqueous).
Explanation:
1. Reactants: Iron(II) sulfate and sodium hydroxide are the reactants.
2. Products: The reaction produces iron(II) hydroxide, a greenish-white solid that precipitates out of solution, and sodium sulfate, which remains dissolved in the water.
3. Balancing: The equation is balanced to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation. In this case, we need two sodium hydroxide molecules to react with one iron(II) sulfate molecule to produce one molecule of iron(II) hydroxide and one molecule of sodium sulfate.
This reaction is a classic example of a double displacement reaction, where the positive and negative ions of two reactants exchange places.
