Question #0ac24

1 Answer
Jan 21, 2018

It should create hydrogen gas #(H_2)# and aluminium chloride #(AlCl_3)#.

Explanation:

A general word equation for metals reacting with acids is

#"metal" \ + \ "acid" -> "salt" + "hydrogen gas"#

Here, the acid is hydrogen chloride, and the metal is aluminium.

So, the equation will be

#Al(s)+HCl(aq)->AlCl_3(aq)+H_2(g)#

This creates aluminium chloride (the salt) and hydrogen gas.

Now, we can write the balanced equation. Let's find the lowest common multiple of the #3# chlorines and #2# hydrogens, which will be #6#. That means that there will be #6HCl#, #2AlCl_3#, and #3H_2#.

#Al(s)+6HCl(aq)->2AlCl_3(aq)+3H_2(g)#

Now, add a #2# in front of the first aluminium to create the whole balanced equation

#2Al(s)+6HCl(aq)->2AlCl_3(aq)+3H_2(g)#