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(Photo credit Ingy The Wingy)

Besides sharing Chemistry Tips and Exam Strategies, the other aim of this chemistry blogsite is to encourage students to learn the Chemistry Theories and Concepts in a more experiential and interesting way – HOW ? By relating chemistry theories to everyday life processes and experience.

Thermit Process came to my mind several days back when i was passing by the railway track in the west area of Singapore, and today i am going to share with you more on how Thermit Process – which is a highly exothermic reaction is used to weld together steel railway lines. It involves the reduction of iron (III) oxide to iron by aluminium.

Now, let’s check out a chemistry question that requires your concepts in several chemistry topics, namely:

• Energy Changes (Endothermic/Exothermic Reactions)
• Redox (Oxidation/Reduction)
• Mole Calculations

Question:

In the highly exothermic Thermit Process to weld railway lines, aluminium is used to reduce iron (III) oxide to iron based on the balanced chemical equation below:

2Al   +   Fe2O3   ->   Al2O3   +   2Fe

(a) Indicate the state symbols for all the reactants and products involved

(b) Calculate what mass of aluminium is needed to react completely with 10.0g of iron (III) oxide

(c) Explain what is meant by exothermic reaction in terms of enthalpy change

(d) Explain in terms of oxidation state, how is iron (III) oxide being reduced in Thermit Process

Alright, do attempt the question and leave your answers in the comment section below. I would love to hear from you.

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