Textbook Question
(a) Write a chemical equation that describes the attack of acid rain on limestone, CaCO3.
3. Chemical Reactions
Balancing Chemical Equations
Multiple Choice
What is the balanced chemical equation for the reaction between aluminum sulfate and silver nitrate?
A
Al2(SO4)3(aq) + 6AgNO3(aq) → 3Ag2SO4(s) + 2Al(NO3)3(aq)
B
Al2(SO4)3(aq) + 3AgNO3(aq) → 3Ag2SO4(s) + Al(NO3)3(aq)
C
Al2(SO4)3(aq) + 4AgNO3(aq) → 4Ag2SO4(s) + Al(NO3)3(aq)
D
Al2(SO4)3(aq) + 2AgNO3(aq) → 2Ag2SO4(s) + Al(NO3)3(aq)
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the reactants and products in the chemical reaction. The reactants are aluminum sulfate \((\text{Al}_2(\text{SO}_4)_3)\) and silver nitrate \((\text{AgNO}_3)\). The products are silver sulfate \((\text{Ag}_2\text{SO}_4)\) and aluminum nitrate \((\text{Al}(\text{NO}_3)_3)\).
Write the unbalanced chemical equation using the chemical formulas of the reactants and products: \(\text{Al}_2(\text{SO}_4)_3 + \text{AgNO}_3 \rightarrow \text{Ag}_2\text{SO}_4 + \text{Al}(\text{NO}_3)_3\).
Balance the equation by ensuring the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides. Start by balancing the aluminum atoms. There are 2 aluminum atoms in \(\text{Al}_2(\text{SO}_4)_3\), so you need 2 \(\text{Al}(\text{NO}_3)_3\) on the product side.
Next, balance the sulfate \((\text{SO}_4)\) ions. There are 3 sulfate ions in \(\text{Al}_2(\text{SO}_4)_3\), so you need 3 \(\text{Ag}_2\text{SO}_4\) on the product side.
Finally, balance the silver \((\text{Ag})\) and nitrate \((\text{NO}_3)\) ions. You need 6 \(\text{AgNO}_3\) to provide 6 silver atoms for 3 \(\text{Ag}_2\text{SO}_4\) and 6 nitrate ions for 2 \(\text{Al}(\text{NO}_3)_3\). The balanced equation is \(\text{Al}_2(\text{SO}_4)_3 + 6\text{AgNO}_3 \rightarrow 3\text{Ag}_2\text{SO}_4 + 2\text{Al}(\text{NO}_3)_3\).
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