Question

write a balanced chemical equation based on the following description: powdered aluminum reacts with powdered iron(iii) oxide to produce solid aluminum oxide and liquid iron metal al(s) + fe₂o₃(s) →

Explanation:

Step1: Write the un - balanced chemical equation

The reaction is between \(Al(s)\) and \(Fe_2O_3(s)\) to produce \(Al_2O_3(s)\) and \(Fe(l)\). So the un - balanced equation is \(Al(s)+Fe_2O_3(s)\to Al_2O_3(s)+Fe(l)\)

Step2: Balance the oxygen atoms

The number of oxygen atoms in \(Fe_2O_3\) is 3 and in \(Al_2O_3\) is also 3. So oxygen is already balanced.

Step3: Balance the aluminum atoms

In the un - balanced equation, there is 1 \(Al\) atom on the left and 2 \(Al\) atoms on the right. So we put a coefficient of 2 in front of \(Al\) on the left side: \(2Al(s)+Fe_2O_3(s)\to Al_2O_3(s)+Fe(l)\)

Step4: Balance the iron atoms

There are 2 \(Fe\) atoms in \(Fe_2O_3\) on the left. So we put a coefficient of 2 in front of \(Fe\) on the right side.

Answer:

\(2Al(s)+Fe_2O_3(s)\to Al_2O_3(s)+2Fe(l)\)