Video Transcript
Which of the following is the resulting product from the reaction of iron with
sulfur? (A) Fe2S3 solid, (B) Fe3S2 solid, (C) FeS plus Fe3S2 solid, (D) FeS plus Fe2S3 solid,
or (E) FeS solid.
In this question, we want to know which compound is formed by the reaction of iron
and sulfur. Iron is considered the most abundant transition element located in the Earth’s
crust. It is very commonly used in industry due to its strength, such as the I-beams that
are used to build skyscrapers. However, elemental iron is very brittle and rusts easily.
We can improve and change the properties of iron by creating alloys and compounds of
iron mixed with other elements. Iron metal is a very reactive element, and it’s easily oxidized to its plus-two or
plus-three state. It also readily forms alloys with other metals. For example, stainless steel is an alloy of iron, chromium, and nickel and is very
corrosion resistant.
In the reaction of iron with sulfur, there’s a straightforward redox reaction. In this reaction, elemental iron is oxidized to its plus-two state and sulfur is
reduced to its minus-two state. And the two form an ionic bond.
With this information, we should be able to answer the question. Which of the following is the resulting product from the reaction of iron with
sulfur? And the correct answer is answer choice (E), iron sulfide.
