Answer:
Al₂O₃ + 6 NaOH -----> 2 Al(OH)₃ + 3 Na₂O
Explanation:
This is a double-displacement reaction. In these reactions, the cation of one compound is swapped with the cation of another.
It is important that the new products have an overall charge of 0. To do this, some compounds must have more than 1 atom of each ion.
1.) Al(OH)₃
-----> Al³⁺ and OH⁻
-----> +3 + (-1) + (-1) + (-1) = 0
2.) Na₂O
-----> Na⁺ and O²⁻
-----> +1 + 1 + (-2) = 0
An equation is balanced when there is an equal amount of each element on both sides of the reaction. If these values are unequal, you can add coefficients to modify the amounts of particular compounds.
The unbalanced equation:
Al₂O₃ + NaOH -----> Al(OH)₃ + Na₂O
Reactants: 2 aluminum, 4 oxygen, 1 sodium, 1 hydrogen
Products: 1 aluminum, 4 oxygen, 2 sodium, 3 hydrogen
The balanced equation:
Al₂O₃ + 6 NaOH -----> 2 Al(OH)₃ + 3 Na₂O
Reactants: 2 aluminum, 9 oxygen, 6 sodium, 6 hydrogen
Products: 2 aluminum, 9 oxygen, 6 sodium, 6 hydrogen
