Question

HELP PLEASE! Would someone teach me how to balance this equation? _ Al + _ O2 -> _______

Answer 1

I am assuming this would be a synthesis reaction since there is only one blank in the products.

Answer 2

Since Al is a metal and O a nonmetal, the product will be an ionic compound.

Answer 3

Do you know how to figure out what the ionic compound will be?

Answer 4

No :( I forgot how to do this. I know we did it last year though

Answer 5

And yes it is a synthesis reaction :)

Answer 6

Al as an ion has a charge of 3+, and O of 2- so to be neutral the ionic compound should be Al2O3.

Answer 7

What happens to the 2 after O? Does it disappear?

Answer 8

No, it stays where it is.

Answer 9

So, the unbalanced equation is Al + O2 -> Al2O3

Answer 10

Some people in my class said that the Al has the charge of 4+ ... how? D:

Answer 11

Hmm, that's not true. Al has 3 valence electrons, so to get to noble gas configuration it would lose 3 electrons making it have a charge of 3+.

Answer 12

Does that clear up your question?

Answer 13

Yes thank you and for the answer, you just put the charge to the other element to form a compound?

Answer 14

Yes, essentially, for an ionic compound.

Answer 15

For example _Ca + _O2 = 2Ca2O ??

Answer 16

Would that be the correct answer? :(

Answer 17

What I gave you is the unbalanced equation. We still need to balance it.

Answer 18

Lets finish this problem before we start the one you just mentioned to keep down confusion.

Answer 19

Okay, sorry

Answer 20

That's cool. Now we just need to make sure the number of Aluminums and Oxygens on each side are equal.

Answer 21

For instance, what we have now is 1 Al, 2 O in reactants. 2 Al, 3 O in products. Not balanced.

Answer 22

Yes, I get that part so far

Answer 23

Ok, great. All we can change now that we have the compounds figured out are the coefficients.

Answer 24

So, if we put 2Al + O2 -> Al2O3, Al is balanced, but not O.

Answer 25

The Al2O3 is not the coefficients???
I thought the 2 and the 3 was.... :(

Answer 26

Wouldn't we have to figure out the coefficients first to get the compound or no? Sorry! I really forgot this

Answer 27

No, that is part of the compound.

Answer 28

No, you always figure out the compounds first. Then the coefficients.

Answer 29

So to figure out the compounds you first have to find their charge and to figure out the coefficients you balance it?

Answer 30

Yup. :)

Answer 31

Ohhhhhhh okay I get it, I thought you were suppose to find the coefficients first to find out the compound

Answer 32

Yeah, that wouldn't work out so well...

Answer 33

I'm glad you are getting it! Let me know what you get once you are done. :)

Answer 34

Alright! Ill let you know. Thanks so much though! :)

Answer 35

You're welcome. :)

Answer 36

Would it be 2Al + 3O2 = Al2O3 ??

Answer 37

Oh shoot sorry

Answer 38

I meant 2Al2O3

Answer 39

4Al + 3O2 = 2Al2O3 ???

Answer 40

:) Yay! Third time's a charm!

Answer 41

Thank you so much for your help! I remember it now! :)

Answer 42

Great! No worries. :)