The ferrate ion, \(\mathrm{FeO}_{4}{ }^{2-}\), is such a powerful oxidizing agent that in acidic solution, aqueous ammonia is reduced to elemental nitrogen along with the formation of the iron(III) ion. a. What is the oxidation state of iron in \(\mathrm{FeO}_{4}{ }^{2-}\), and what is the electron configuration of iron in this polyatomic ion? b. If \(25.0 \mathrm{~mL}\) of a \(0.243 \mathrm{M} \mathrm{FeO}_{4}^{2-}\) solution is allowed to react with \(55.0 \mathrm{~mL}\) of \(1.45 M\) aqueous ammonia, what volume of nitrogen gas can form at \(25^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) and \(1.50 \mathrm{~atm}\) ?

Understanding the oxidation state of an element within a compound is crucial for predicting its chemical behavior. The oxidation state signifies the hypothetical charge an atom would have if all bonds were purely ionic. In the instance of the ferrate ion, \(\mathrm{FeO}_{4}{ }^{2-}\), we calculate the oxidation state of iron by acknowledging that oxygen typically has an oxidation state of -2. Because there are four oxygen atoms, their combined charge is -8. Since the overall charge of the ion is -2, we infer that iron must carry a +6 charge to balance the oxygens. Simplified, the equation is:
\[ x + 4(\textnormal{-2}) = -2 \]. By solving for \(x\), we find that the oxidation state of iron is +6.
It's beneficial for students to grasp this concept to understand redox reactions, predicting compound stability, and the systematic naming of compounds. Remember, the sum of oxidation states always equals the net charge of the molecule or ion.

The electron configuration is an essential tool for understanding an atom's behavior in chemical bonding. For iron in the ferrate ion \(\mathrm{FeO}_{4}{ }^{2-}\), we've determined its oxidation state is +6, which implies iron loses six electrons relative to its neutral state. The electron configuration for a neutral iron atom (atomic number 26) is \( [Ar]3d^6 4s^2 \). Following the loss of six electrons, two from the 4s and four from the 3d orbitals, we're left with the configuration of \( [Ar]3d^2 \). This configuration informs us about the likely types of chemical bonds iron can form and its magnetic properties. A firm understanding of electron configurations empowers students to predict and explain trends in the periodic table, such as elements' reactivity or why certain configurations lead to an element's color.

Stoichiometry bridges the gap between the atomic scale and the practical world by using the balanced chemical equation to relate substances' qualitative identities with their quantitative information. In our problem, the reaction between ferrate ion and ammonia was scaled using a balanced chemical equation to find the volume of nitrogen gas produced. Calculating moles, we determine the limiting reagent, which then tells us how much product can be formed.
Utilizing gas laws, specifically the ideal gas law expressed as \( PV = nRT \), where \(P\) is pressure, \(V\) is volume, \(n\) is moles, \(R\) is the gas constant (\(0.0821\ \frac{\text{L atm}}{\text{mol K}}\)), and \(T\) is temperature in Kelvin, we can calculate the volume of the nitrogen gas produced at a given temperature and pressure. This example shows how stoichiometry and gas laws enable us to predict outcomes in chemical reactions, crucial for fields such as chemical engineering and environmental science.