Final answer:
Using stoichiometry and the balanced equation of aluminum reacting with oxygen, 17 moles of aluminum will produce 8.5 moles of aluminum oxide.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks how many moles of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) will be formed when 17 moles of aluminum react. To find this, we need to use stoichiometry based on the balanced chemical equation for the reaction between aluminum and oxygen to form aluminum oxide:
4 Al(s) + 3 O2(g) → 2 Al2O3(s)
From the balanced equation, we see that 4 moles of aluminum will produce 2 moles of aluminum oxide. Therefore, if we have 17 moles of aluminum, we can set up a simple proportion:
(4 moles Al / 2 moles Al2O3) = (17 moles Al / x moles Al2O3)
Solving for x, we find that:
x = (17 moles Al × 2 moles Al2O3) / 4 moles Al = 8.5 moles of Al2O3