Aluminium reacts with sulfuric acid (h2so4) to produce aluminium sulfate al2(so4)3 and hydrogen (h2). Complete the balance the equation for this reaction?

1 Answer
Meave60
Apr 20, 2018

Balanced Equation:

#2"Al(s)" + 3"H"_2"SO"_4("aq")"##rarr##"Al"_2("SO"_4)_3("aq") + 3"H"_2("g")"#

Explanation:

#"Al(s) + H"_2"SO"_4("aq")"##rarr##"Al"_2("SO"_4)_3("aq") + "H"_2("g")"#

Start with the polyatomic sulfate ion, #"SO"_4"#. There is one sulfate ion on the left-hand side and there are three on the right-hand side. Place a coefficient of #3# in front of #"H"_2"SO"4"#.

#"Al(s)" + color(red)3"H"_2"SO"_4("aq")"##rarr##"Al"_2("SO"_4)_3("aq") + "H"_2("g")"#

There are now six hydrogen atoms on the left-hand side and two hydrogen atoms on the right-hand side. Place a coefficient of #3# in front of #"H"_2"#.

#"Al(s)" + color(red)3"H"_2"SO"_4("aq")"##rarr##"Al"_2("SO"_4)_3("aq") + color(purple)3"H"_2("g")"#

There is one aluminum atom on the left-hand side and two on the right-hand side. Place a coefficient of #2# in front of #"Al"# on the left-hand side.

#color(green)2"Al(s)" + color(red)3"H"_2"SO"_4("aq")"##rarr##"Al"_2("SO"_4)_3("aq") + color(purple)3"H"_2("g")"#

Number of atoms of each element on each side:

#"Left-hand side: 2 Al, 6 H, 3 S, 12 O"#

#"Right-hand side: 2 Al, 6 H, 3 S, 12 O"#

Both sides have the same number of atoms of each element and the equation is therefore balanced.

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