`Fe_(2)O_(3)+3H_(2) rarr 2Fe+3H_(2)O` ( reference to iron )

Answer

To analyze the reaction \( \text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3 + 3\text{H}_2 \rightarrow 2\text{Fe} + 3\text{H}_2\text{O} \) with reference to iron, we will follow these steps:

### Step 1: Write the Balanced Chemical Equation
The balanced chemical equation is already given as:
\[ \text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3 + 3\text{H}_2 \rightarrow 2\text{Fe} + 3\text{H}_2\text{O} \]

### Step 2: Determine the Oxidation States
1. **For \( \text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3 \)**:
- The oxidation state of oxygen (O) is \(-2\).
- Let the oxidation state of iron (Fe) be \(x\).
- The equation for the oxidation states is:
\[ 2x + 3(-2) = 0 \implies 2x - 6 = 0 \implies 2x = 6 \implies x = +3 \]
- Therefore, the oxidation state of iron in \( \text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3 \) is \( +3 \).

2. **For \( \text{H}_2 \)**:
- Since hydrogen is in its elemental state, its oxidation state is \(0\).

3. **For \( \text{Fe} \)**:
- In the product \( \text{Fe} \), iron is also in its elemental state, so its oxidation state is \(0\).

4. **For \( \text{H}_2\text{O} \)**:
- The oxidation state of oxygen is \(-2\).
- Let the oxidation state of hydrogen be \(y\):
\[ 2y - 2 = 0 \implies 2y = 2 \implies y = +1 \]
- Therefore, the oxidation state of hydrogen in water is \( +1 \).

### Step 3: Analyze the Changes in Oxidation States
- **Iron**: The oxidation state changes from \( +3 \) in \( \text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3 \) to \( 0 \) in \( \text{Fe} \). This is a decrease in oxidation state, indicating that iron is being reduced.

- **Hydrogen**: The oxidation state changes from \( 0 \) in \( \text{H}_2 \) to \( +1 \) in \( \text{H}_2\text{O} \). This is an increase in oxidation state, indicating that hydrogen is being oxidized.

### Step 4: Conclusion
With reference to iron, we conclude that:
- The reaction involves the reduction of iron from \( \text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3 \) to elemental iron \( \text{Fe} \) as its oxidation state decreases from \( +3 \) to \( 0 \).

Thus, we can summarize:
**Therefore, with reference to iron, the reduction of iron occurs from ferric oxide \( \text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3 \) to iron \( \text{Fe} \).**

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