Final answer:
In the chemical equation 4Al + 3O₂ → 2Al₂O₃, the reactants are 4Al (aluminum) and 3O₂ (oxygen). These reactants combine to form the product aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) in a balanced reaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reactants in the chemical equation 4Al + 3O₂ → 2Al₂O₃ are 4Al and 3O₂. In any chemical equation, the substances on the left side of the arrow are the reactants, which are the starting materials that react with each other, and on the right side are the products, which are the substances formed as a result of the reaction. In this particular equation, aluminum (Al) reacts with oxygen (O₂) to form aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃).
When writing a balanced chemical equation, it is crucial that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both the reactant and the product sides. For example, in the equation 2 Al + Fe₂O₃ → Fe + Al₂O₃, balancing starts by matching the number of Al atoms on both sides.
Understanding the process of balancing equations is essential for accurately predicting the outcomes of chemical reactions and determining the exact amounts of reactants needed for a given amount of product, as demonstrated in exercises like generating aluminum oxide in the chemical equation 2 AlCl₃ + 3H₂O(l) → Al₂O₃ + 6 HCl(g).