Question

How would you complete and balance the acid base neutralizations reaction: `HNO_3 + Al(OH_3) ->`?

Answer 1

`3"HNO"_3+"Al"("OH")_3rarr"Al"("NO")_3+3"H"_2"O"`

Explanation:

The 3 hydroxide ions from the aluminum hydroxide need 3 hydrogen ions to form 3 water molecules. Since the nitric acid is the only reactant that will give off hydrogen ions, there must be 3 of them. This also checks out when noting that the nitrate ion has a charge of -1, so 3 of them must join with the aluminum ion (charge of +3) when forming the product, which must be aluminum nitrate.