How would you balence the reaction between aluminum and copper chloride: CuCl2+H2O+Al ------> AlCl3+CuO (note: all numbers supposed to be small)
2006-11-20 09:18:54 · 3 answers · asked by *Star* 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
I'm assuming you are missing a product of H2 gas on the right side.
Start w/ the Chlorine - balance those first. Finding the LCM (least common multiple) of 2 and 3 is 6. So make it so each side of the reaction has 6 Cl. After that it's easy.
2006-11-20 09:25:35 · answer #1 · answered by Pony 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmm, the problem here is that this reaction won't proceed as written. In the real world you will end up with a thin coating of Al2O3 on your aluminum, which neither H2O or CuCl2 can remove, or on paper you'll and up with AlCl3 and copper metal (copper is noble enough that you won't get copper oxidation except at pretty low pH's, and even then it will take a while) That being said, if you want to through hydrogen in as a product, it's 3 H2's, not 6H's.
2006-11-20 17:41:57 · answer #2 · answered by woody_424242 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok i think i see your problem since you need hydrogen gas to form as well.
So the balanced equation would be
3CuCl2 + 3H2O + 2Al ==> 2AlCl3 + 3CuO + 6H
2006-11-20 17:24:48 · answer #3 · answered by gordon_benbow 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋