Aluminum oxide, Al2O3, decomposes into aluminum, Al, and oxygen gas, O2. Which ratio of aluminum to oxygen gas is in the products of the reaction?
4:3
3:2
1:3
2:3
The balanced chemical equation for the decomposition of aluminum oxide is:
2 Al2O3 → 4 Al + 3 O2
From the equation, we can see that for every 4 moles of aluminum (Al) produced, we have 3 moles of oxygen gas (O2) produced.
Therefore, the ratio of aluminum to oxygen gas in the products of the reaction is 4:3.
To determine the ratio of aluminum to oxygen gas in the products of the reaction, we need to balance the chemical equation for the decomposition of aluminum oxide (Al2O3). The balanced equation is as follows:
2Al2O3 → 4Al + 3O2
From the balanced equation, we can see that for every 2 Al2O3 molecules, we get 4 Al molecules and 3 O2 molecules. Therefore, the ratio of aluminum to oxygen gas in the products of the reaction is 4:3.
To determine the ratio of aluminum to oxygen gas in the products of the reaction, we can use the concept of the law of conservation of mass. According to this law, mass is neither created nor destroyed during a chemical reaction. Therefore, the total mass of the reactants should be equal to the total mass of the products.
The formula for aluminum oxide is Al2O3, which means it contains 2 moles of aluminum (Al) and 3 moles of oxygen (O2). During decomposition, aluminum oxide breaks down into aluminum and oxygen gas.
Since aluminum oxide has a 2:3 ratio of aluminum to oxygen, the products formed should also have the same ratio. Therefore, the correct answer is 2:3.