To balance the chemical equation \( \text{AlCl}_3 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{Al(OH)}_3 + \text{HCl} \), follow these steps:
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Write down the unbalanced equation: \[ \text{AlCl}_3 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{Al(OH)}_3 + \text{HCl} \]
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Count the number of each type of atom on both sides:
- Reactants:
- Al: 1 (from AlCl3)
- Cl: 3 (from AlCl3)
- H: 2 (from H2O)
- O: 1 (from H2O)
- Products:
- Al: 1 (from Al(OH)3)
- Cl: 1 (from HCl)
- H: 4 (3 from Al(OH)3 + 1 from HCl)
- O: 3 (from Al(OH)3)
- Reactants:
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Start balancing the equation:
- Balance the number of chlorine atoms by placing a coefficient of 3 in front of HCl: \[ \text{AlCl}_3 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{Al(OH)}_3 + 3 \text{HCl} \]
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Now recount and balance the hydrogen and oxygen:
- On the product side, we now have:
- H: 3 (from Al(OH)3) + 3 (from 3 HCl) = 6
- O: 3 (from Al(OH)3)
- On the product side, we now have:
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To balance the hydrogen, place a coefficient of 3 in front of water: \[ \text{AlCl}_3 + 3 \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{Al(OH)}_3 + 3 \text{HCl} \]
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Now recount the atoms:
- Reactants:
- Al: 1
- Cl: 3
- H: 6 (from 3 H2O)
- O: 3 (from 3 H2O)
- Products:
- Al: 1
- Cl: 3
- H: 6 (3 from Al(OH)3 and 3 from 3 HCl)
- O: 3 (from Al(OH)3)
- Reactants:
Now everything is balanced. The final balanced equation is:
\[ \text{AlCl}_3 + 3 \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{Al(OH)}_3 + 3 \text{HCl} \]