Electron Transfer in Fe + HCl Reaction: How Many Electrons are Involved?

[mate1000]

Hey iv been given a tutorial question that says:
How many electrons are transferred in the following reaction?

Fe + 2HCl -> FeCl2 + H2

Now when you go to a redution potential table and get
Fe2+ + 2e- -> Fe(s)
2H+ + 2e- -> H2
Cl2 + 2e- -> 2Cl-

Do you have to do the reaction between the H and Cl first and then do the whole reaction or what?
Cheers

 

[Borek]

Forget about table, try to split the reaction into two half reactions - reduction and oxidation.

 

[mate1000]

If you look at the half reactions though don't both reactions have the electrons on the right hand side in order to get the right final equation, or am i missing something crucial out.
But if Fe is oxidation Fe-Fe2+ + 2e- and Cl is reduction Cl2 + 2e- - 2Cl-, then u would have a transfer of two electrons, right?

 

[Borek]

If you look at the half reactions though don't both reactions have the electrons on the right hand side in order to get the right final equation, or am i missing something crucial out.

What you are missing is fact, that you don't start wirh Fe²⁺ - so you have to reverse one of the reactions.

But if Fe is oxidation Fe-Fe2+ + 2e- and Cl is reduction Cl2 + 2e- - 2Cl-, then u would have a transfer of two electrons, right?

Fe is oxidized, that's OK.

Write net ionic reaction, you will see what is being reduced.