[logan3]

"An analytical chemist wanted to determine the composition of copper-bearing steel. He placed 5.00 g of the sample in excess aqueous HCl solution. All the iron in the steel dissolved as iron (III) chloride, and 0.15 g of the hydrogen was produced. What is the percent composition of the alloy? Assume the alloy is composed only of Cu and Fe, and that the Cu did not react with the HCl."

My chemical equation (I don't know how to balance the CuFe):
2CuFe + 6HCl 2Fe(III)Cl₃ + 3H₂ + 2Cu

The answers are supposed to be 55.4% Fe and 44.6% Cu, but I can't figure out how to get them.

Thank-you

[Borek]

Your equation is wrong. Copper and iron are separate entities, not a "CuFe" compound.

Does copper dissolve in non oxidizing acid? Did everything dissolve?

[Arkcon]

Assume the alloy is composed only of Cu and Fe, and that the Cu did not react with the HCl."

You neglected this part of the text you typed when you set up this problem.