472,597 views
29 votes
29 votes
If aluminum nitrate reacts with calcium phosphite, what is the balanced coefficient of aluminum nitrate?

User Silverspoon
by
2.7k points

1 Answer

18 votes
18 votes

Answer:

The coefficient of aluminum nitrate is 2.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reaction between aluminum nitrate and calcium phosphite is:

Al(NO₃)₃ + CaHPO₃ → Al₂(HPO₃)₃ + Ca(NO₃)₂

Now, we need to balance the equation. Let's begin with phosphite anion. On the reactant side we have 1 molecule of the anion, and on the products side we have 3 of it, so we need to add a coefficient of 3 before CaHPO₃:

Al(NO₃)₃ + 3CaHPO₃ → Al₂(HPO₃)₃ + Ca(NO₃)₂

The number of Ca atoms on the reactants side is now 3 and on the products side is 1, so we need to add a coefficient of 3 as follows:

Al(NO₃)₃ + 3CaHPO₃ → Al₂(HPO₃)₃ + 3Ca(NO₃)₂

The reactants side has 1 atom of Al, and the products side has 2. Let's add a coefficient of 2 on the reactant side:

2Al(NO₃)₃ + 3CaHPO₃ → Al₂(HPO₃)₃ + 3Ca(NO₃)₂

Finally, the nitrate anion has 6 molecules on the reactant side, which is equal to the number of molecules of NO₃⁻ on the product side.

Hence, in the balanced equation, we have a coefficient of 2 in aluminum nitrate.

I hope it helps you!

User Gbenga B Ayannuga
by
3.0k points