[Juronimo]

Solid iron(III) oxide reacts with gaseous carbon monoxide to produce molten iron and carbon dioxide in an industrial reactor. The equipment operates at 60.0 % yield. How many grams of iron(III) oxide would be needed if you want to produce 36.0 grams of iron metal?

I just need help balancing the equation to do the rest of the problem...so far i have.

Fe2O3 + CO --> Fe + CO2


i cant find the right numbers to balance it out

[Ak]

I always find it helpful to write down like this
Fe2O3 + CO --> Fe + CO2
             2 Fe 1
             1 c 1
             4 o 2

So the first thing u have to double the O on the products side:
Fe2O3 + CO --> Fe + 2CO2
             2 Fe 1
             1 c 2
             4 o 4
Now u have to double the C on the reactants side:
Fe2O3 + 2CO --> Fe + 2CO2
             2 Fe 1
             2 c 2
             5 o 4
Now u have to change the O on the products side:
Fe2O3 + 2CO --> Fe + 3CO2
             2 Fe 1
             2 c 3
             5 o 6
Now u have to change the O and C on the reactants side:
Fe2O3 + 3CO --> Fe + 3CO2
             2 Fe 1
             3 c 3
             6 o 6
Finally, change the Fe on the products side
Fe2O3 + 3CO --> 2Fe + 3CO2
             2 Fe 2
             3 c 3
             6 o 6

[Juronimo]

thank you very much that is a much more clear way to do things