Final answer:
Al3+ and O2- particles form the ionic compound aluminum oxide (Al2O3), which results from the electrostatic attraction between the aluminum cations and oxide anions to achieve a neutral charge. The balanced equation for its formation is 4 Al(s) + 3 O2(g) → 2 Al2O3(s).
Step-by-step explanation:
When Al3+ and O2- particles combine, they form the ionic compound aluminum oxide (Al2O3). An ionic compound is formed through the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions, in this case, aluminum cations (Al3+) and oxide anions (O2-).
To achieve electrical neutrality, two aluminum ions, which carry a +3 charge each, will combine with three oxide ions, each carrying a -2 charge, resulting in the formula Al2O3. This is because the total positive charge of +6 from the aluminum ions is balanced by the total negative charge of -6 from the oxide ions.
To construct a balanced chemical equation for the formation of aluminum oxide, we would write:
- 4 Al(s) + 3 O2(g) → 2 Al2O3(s)
This shows that four aluminum atoms react with three diatomic oxygen molecules to form two formula units of aluminum oxide.