The balanced equation :
2Al₂O₃⇒ 4Al+3O₂
Further explanation
Given
Reaction
Al₂O₃⇒ Al+O₂
Required
Balanced equation
Solution
A chemical reaction is said to be balanced if the number of elements involved in the reaction is the same (either the reactants or the products)
The reaction above is said to be unbalanced because the number of elements Al and O in the reactants and products is not the same.
The balancing step
1. Give a coefficient
Al₂O₃⇒ aAl+bO₂
2. Make an equation
Al, left = 2, right = a⇒a=2
O, left = 3, right = 2b⇒2b=3⇒b=3/2
The equation becomes :
Al₂O₃⇒ 2Al+3/2O₂ x2
2Al₂O₃⇒ 4Al+3O₂