Help with balancing chem equations?

[Guest Octahedron]

Hi

 

I am working on balancing some equations in chemical reactions. I have worked hard, but am still stuck, and now feeling very unsure of myself. Could anyone see if these are done correctly, and if not, help me see what I am doing wrong here? (also how to do subscripts and superscripts here?)

 

My equation in need of balancing:

Al(OH)3 + H2SO4 ----> Al2(SO4)3 + H2O

 

my answer:

2Al(OH)3 + 3H2SO4 ---> Al2(SO4)3 + 3H20

 

Is this correct? It looks like it to me, but am not sure. Any help GREATLY appreciated!

[jdurg]

Okay, when balancing equations the best way to start out is to pick one compound and try and get that one balanced. (Therefore it's best to pick a compound that is present in multiple products). This way, once you get that one main compound balanced you can slowly bring back the other parts of the equations to get everything balanced. In this example, it's actually not too bad since it's simply a neutralization reaction. In a neutralization reaction an acid and a base react to form a salt and water. So the hydrogen part of the acid will always combine with the hydroxide part of the base to form the water molecule. What's left over creates the salt.

 

In the answer you got, let's take a look at the total count for each element in the reaction:

 

Reactants; 2-Al, 18-O, 12-H, and 3-S

Products; 2-Al, 15-O, 6-H, and 3-S

 

So you are short 6 Hydrogen atoms and 3 Oxygen atoms. What can you do on the products side to get 6 more hydrogen atoms and 3 more oxygen atoms? Once you've figured that out, you'll have balanced the equation.

[Guest Octahedron]

THANK YOU Jdurg. I am going to work on this awhile, and if I can get this done soon, I'll reply back with my answer, otherwise I'll reply back later after I meet with my study group.