Question

Translate the following statement into a chemical equation and then balance it:

Aluminium metal reacts with steam to give aluminium oxide and hydrogen gas.

Answer 1

The chemical equation for the reaction between aluminium metal (Al) and steam \[\ce{(H2O)}\] to form aluminium oxide \[\ce{(Al2O3)}\] and hydrogen gas \[\ce{(H2)}\] is:

\[\ce{2Al_{(s)} + 3H2O_{(g)} -> Al2O3_{(s)} + 3H2_{(g)}}\]

The balanced equation is:

\[\ce{4Al_{(s)} + 6H2O_{(g)} -> 2Al2O3_{(s)} + 6H2_{(g)}}\]

These balanced chemical equations represent the reactions described in the given statement.