Question

_Ca +_AlCl3 --> _CaCl2 + _AIWhen the reaction is balanced, what is the coefficient in front of the Al? Answer options 2, 4, 1, 3

Answer 1

To balance the given equation remember to start by the elements that are different from oxygen and hydrogen, in this case, let's start by chlorine:

As chlorine in AlCl3 is 3 times and in CaCl2 is 2 times, we have to write a 2 in AlCl3 and a 3 in CaCl2, with this coefficients we will have 6 chlorines in total at each side of the equation.

Then, as we put that 2 in front of AlCl3, we will also have 2 aluminium. After the reaction we have only one aluminium, it means that we need to write 2 in front of Al to balance the number of aluminium in the equation.

The correct option is 2.