Final answer:
The balanced chemical equation for the reaction between aluminum and sulfuric acid has 2 Al, 6 H, 3 S, and 12 O atoms on both reactant and product sides, adhering to the law of conservation of mass.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering the balanced equation of aluminum reacting with sulfuric acid, 2 Al + 3 H₂SO₄ → Al₂(SO₄)₃ + 3 H₂, we need to count the atoms of each element on both sides of the equation. The reactants have 2 aluminum (Al) atoms, 6 hydrogen (H) atoms, and 3 sulfuric acid molecules which total 3 sulfur (S) atoms and 12 oxygen (O) atoms. On the product side, there is 1 aluminum sulfate molecule, which contains 2 aluminum (Al) atoms, 3 sulfur (S) atoms, and 12 oxygen (O) atoms, and also 3 hydrogen gas molecules, each containing 2 hydrogen (H) atoms for a total of 6. Therefore, on both sides of the equation we have: 2 Al atoms, 6 H atoms, 3 S atoms, and 12 O atoms.
The equation is balanced as all elements have the same number of atoms on both the reactant and product sides, ensuring the law of conservation of mass is met. No further balancing steps are required since all coefficients are at their simplest whole-number ratio.