2. The reaction can be described in words as follows: aluminum sulfate reacted with ammonium hydroxide forming the insoluble product or precipitate, aluminum hydroxide and the water-soluble ammonium sulfate. The chemical equation can be written as follows (“aq” means aqueous, dissolved in water):

Question

2.	The reaction can be described in words as follows: aluminum sulfate reacted with ammonium hydroxide forming the insoluble product or precipitate, aluminum hydroxide and the water-soluble ammonium sulfate.  The chemical equation can be written as follows (“aq” means aqueous, dissolved in water):

___KAl(SO4)2 (aq)  +  ___NH4OH(aq)  ___Al(OH)3(s)  +  ___(NH4)2SO4(aq)  +  ___KOH(aq)

a)	Balance the above chemical equation.  
b)	Are the reactants (compounds on the left of the arrow) and products (compounds on the right of the arrow) covalent or ionic?

DrBob222 · Answer

a. See your previus post. b. Most salts; i.e.,KAl(SO4)2, (NH4)2SO4 are ionic. Technically NH4OH doesn't exist. It is a solution of NH3 gas and H2O(aq) NH3 + HOH ==> NH4^+ + OH^-