Final answer:
The balanced equation for the reaction of copper(I) sulfide with aluminum to produce copper metal and aluminum sulfide is 3 Cu2S (s) + 2 Al (s) → 6 Cu (s) + Al2S3 (s).
Step-by-step explanation:
To balance the equation for the reaction where copper(I) sulfide reacts with aluminum metal to form copper metal and aluminum sulfide, we need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element on the reactant side is equal to the number on the product side. We begin by writing the unbalanced equation and then adjust the coefficients to balance the equation:
- Write the unbalanced equation with correct formulas for reactants and products: Cu2S (s) + Al (s) → Cu (s) + Al2S3 (s)
- Balance copper (Cu) and sulfur (S) by adjusting the coefficients: 3 Cu2S (s) + 2 Al (s) → 6 Cu (s) + Al2S3 (s)
The balanced chemical equation represents that 3 moles of copper(I) sulfide react with 2 moles of aluminum metal to produce 6 moles of copper metal and 1 mole of aluminum sulfide.