Question

write an unbalanced equation to represent the following reaction. do not include states of matter. aluminum reacts with oxygen to form aluminum oxide. al + o₂ → al₂o₃

Explanation:

Step1: Write the un - balanced equation

$Al + O_2
ightarrow Al_2O_3$

Step2: Balance the oxygen atoms

To balance the oxygen atoms, we note that there are 2 oxygen atoms in $O_2$ and 3 oxygen atoms in $Al_2O_3$. The least - common multiple of 2 and 3 is 6. So we put a 3 in front of $O_2$ and a 2 in front of $Al_2O_3$: $Al+3O_2
ightarrow 2Al_2O_3$

Step3: Balance the aluminum atoms

Now, there are 4 aluminum atoms on the right - hand side. So we put a 4 in front of $Al$ on the left - hand side. The balanced equation is $4Al + 3O_2
ightarrow 2Al_2O_3$. But we are asked for the unbalanced equation, so we just keep the initial form.

Answer:

$Al + O_2
ightarrow Al_2O_3$