How do you write a equation for "Aluminum + copper (ll) sulfate -> copper + aluminum sulfate"?

1 Answer
Dec 23, 2015

#2Al(s)+3CuSO_4(aq)->Al_2(SO_4)_3(aq)+3Cu(s)#

Explanation:

The reaction would be the following :

#2Al(s)+3CuSO_4(aq)->Al_2(SO_4)_3(aq)+3Cu(s)#

This is an oxidation-reduction reaction were electrons are transferred from Aluminum #Al# which get oxidized to Copper #Cu^(2+)# which gets reduced.

Oxidation: #Al(s)->Al^(3+)(aq)+3e^-#

Reduction: #Cu^(2+)(aq)+2e^(-)->Cu(s)#

The net redox reaction would then be:

#color(red)(2xx)(Al(s)->Al^(3+)(aq)+cancel(3e^-))#
#color(red)(3xx)(Cu^(2+)(aq)+cancel(2e^(-))->Cu(s))#
#---------------#
#2Al(s)+3Cu^(2+)(aq)->2Al^(3+)(aq)+3Cu(s)#

Note that #SO_4^(2-)# is a spectator ion.