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2Al + 3O2 ➞ 2Al2O3 balance or not?

User Tri Hoang
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1 Answer

3 votes

Answer:

The correct balanced equation is: 4Al + 3O₂ ➞ 2Al₂O₃

Step-by-step explanation:

Unfortunately, that isn't the balanced equation. If you take the original equation [unbalanced],

Al + O₂ ➞ Al₂O₃

We have 1 aluminium and 2 oxygen on the left-hand side. On the right-hand side, we have 2 aluminium and 3 oxygen. So we must add 3 on the oxygen in the left-hand side and 2 on the aluminium oxide in the right-hand side.

Al + 3O₂ ➞ 2Al₂O₃

Now if you check, we have 1 aluminium and 6 oxygen on the left-hand side and 4 aluminium and 6 oxygen on the right-hand side. The number of moles of oxygen is equal but the number of moles of aluminium isn't. So we must add 4 on the aluminium of the left-hand, in order to have a balanced equation.

4Al + 3O₂ ➞ 2Al₂O₃

User Dburke
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