What is a balanced equation for the reaction of aluminium selenide with water?

Assume that aluminum hydroxide and hydrogen selenide are being formed. Then work out the balance.

To determine the balanced equation for the reaction between aluminum selenide and water, we need to identify the products formed.

The reaction between aluminum selenide (Al₂Se₃) and water (H₂O) will produce aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)₃) and hydrogen selenide (H₂Se).

Now let's balance the equation step by step:

Step 1: Write the unbalanced equation for the reaction:
Al₂Se₃ + H₂O -> Al(OH)₃ + H₂Se

Step 2: Count the number of atoms for each element on both sides of the equation:

Aluminuim (Al): 2 on the left, 1 on the right
Selenium (Se): 3 on the left, 1 on the right
Hydrogen (H): 2 on the left, 2 on the right
Oxygen (O): 3 on the right

Step 3: Balance the elements one by one, starting with the elements that appear in the fewest compounds.

Starting with Selenium (Se):
Since there are 3 selenium atoms on the left and only 1 on the right, we need to balance the Se atoms by multiplying H₂Se by 3:
Al₂Se₃ + H₂O -> Al(OH)₃ + 3H₂Se

Now let's move on to Hydrogen (H):
Since there are only 2 hydrogen atoms on the right, we need to balance the H atoms by multiplying Al(OH)₃ by 2:
Al₂Se₃ + H₂O -> 2Al(OH)₃ + 3H₂Se

Finally, let's balance Aluminum (Al):
Since there are 2 aluminum atoms on the left and 2 on the right, the Al atoms are already balanced.

The balanced equation for the reaction of aluminum selenide with water, assuming that aluminum hydroxide and hydrogen selenide are being formed, is:

Al₂Se₃ + H₂O -> 2Al(OH)₃ + 3H₂Se