Question

A salt forms in the reaction of aluminum with chlorine. what is the most likely formula unit of this salt? responses alcl uppercase a lowercase l uppercase c lowercase l al3cl uppercase a lowercase l subscript 3 end subscript uppercase c lowercase l alcl3 uppercase a lowercase l uppercase c lowercase l subscript 3 end subscript alcl2

Answer 1

The most likely formula unit for the salt formed from the reaction of aluminum with chlorine is AlCl3, as aluminum forms a +3 ion and chlorine forms a -1 ion, resulting in a compound with a neutral charge.

Step-by-step explanation:

The salt formed in the reaction of aluminum with chlorine is aluminum chloride, with a formula unit of AlCl3. This is because aluminum, a Group III element, typically forms a +3 ion (Al3+), and chlorine, a Group VII element, forms a -1 ion (Cl-). When we combine these ions in the simplest integer ratio to obtain a neutral compound, we get AlCl3 as the product. This is confirmed by the balanced chemical reaction: 2 Al (s) + 3 Cl2 (g) → 2 AlCl3 (s). The solid aluminum chloride AlCl3 that forms is a result of aluminum reacting with chlorine gas.