Question

Balance the following equation:
AI+F2 = AIF3
Select the coefficient that would go in front of AIF3

Answer 1

To balance the equation \( \text{AI} + \text{F}_2 \rightarrow \text{AIF}_3 \), we need to ensure that the number of each type of atom is the same on both sides.

Starting with the unbalanced equation:

- On the left side, we have:
- 1 Aluminum (AI)
- 2 Fluorine (F from \( F_2 \))

- On the right side, we have:
- 1 Aluminum (from AIF3)
- 3 Fluorine (from AIF3)

To balance the equation:
1. We keep the 1 Aluminum atom as is on both sides.
2. Since we have 3 Fluorine atoms in AIF3 and only 2 Fluorine atoms from F2, we need to adjust the coefficients to balance the fluorine atoms.

By putting a coefficient of 3 in front of AIF3 and a coefficient of 1.5 in front of F2 (to get 3 Fluorine atoms), we modify our equation as follows:

\[
\text{AI} + 1.5 \, \text{F}_2 \rightarrow 3 \, \text{AIF}_3
\]

However, since we usually prefer whole number coefficients, we can multiply the entire equation by 2:

\[
2 \, \text{AI} + 3 \, \text{F}_2 \rightarrow 2 \, \text{AIF}_3
\]

Thus, the balanced equation is:

\[
2 \, \text{AI} + 3 \, \text{F}_2 \rightarrow 2 \, \text{AIF}_3
\]

The coefficient that would go in front of AIF3 is **2**.