The change in the oxidation state of iron in the reaction represented by the equation: \(2FeCl_{3} + H_{2}S \to 2FeCl_{2} + 2HCl + S\) is

Answer Details

In the given chemical equation, the reactants are iron(III) chloride (\(FeCl_{3}\)) and hydrogen sulfide (\(H_{2}S\)), and the products are iron(II) chloride (\(FeCl_{2}\)), hydrogen chloride (\(HCl\)), and sulfur (\(S\)). Let's consider the oxidation state of iron in the reactants and products. Iron has a variable oxidation state, and it can exist in either +2 or +3 oxidation state in its compounds. In \(FeCl_{3}\), iron has an oxidation state of +3. Hydrogen sulfide (\(H_{2}S\)) has sulfur in -2 oxidation state. In the product \(FeCl_{2}\), iron has an oxidation state of +2. Sulfur in the product is in 0 oxidation state. Therefore, in the given chemical equation, the oxidation state of iron changes from +3 in the reactant (\(FeCl_{3}\)) to +2 in the product (\(FeCl_{2}\)). Hence the correct answer is "+3 to +2".