Write the balanced equation here: ____Al + ____HCl 🡪 ____ AlCl₃ +____H₂

Answer 1

To balance the chemical equation for the reaction between aluminum (Al) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) to produce aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) and hydrogen gas (H₂), we follow these steps:

1. Write the unbalanced equation: \[ \text{Al} + \text{HCl} \rightarrow \text{AlCl}_3 + \text{H}_2 \]

2. Count the number of each type of atom on both sides of the equation. Initially:

   • Reactants:
     • Al: 1
     • H: 1
     • Cl: 1
   • Products:
     • Al: 1
     • H: 2
     • Cl: 3

3. Balance the chlorine (Cl) atoms by placing a coefficient of 3 in front of HCl: \[ \text{Al} + 3\text{HCl} \rightarrow \text{AlCl}_3 + \text{H}_2 \]

4. Now count again:

   • Reactants:
     • Al: 1
     • H: 3
     • Cl: 3
   • Products:
     • Al: 1
     • H: 2
     • Cl: 3

5. To balance hydrogen, place a coefficient of 3/2 (or 1.5) in front of H₂: \[ \text{Al} + 3\text{HCl} \rightarrow \text{AlCl}_3 + \frac{3}{2}\text{H}_2 \] However, we prefer to use whole numbers, so we can multiply through by 2:

   \[ 2\text{Al} + 6\text{HCl} \rightarrow 2\text{AlCl}_3 + 3\text{H}_2 \]

The final balanced equation is: \[ \boxed{2\text{Al} + 6\text{HCl} \rightarrow 2\text{AlCl}_3 + 3\text{H}_2} \]