Complete the chemical equations for when tin and aluminium are heated?

Question

Aluminium oxide is Al2O3 

And tin oxide is SnO

Answer 1

Hi Siobhan,

 

Assuming the metals are heated in an atmosphere containing sufficient oxygen, the reaction that occurs is an oxidation. The metals react with oxygen to form the respective oxides.

 

Aluminum (Al) reacts with oxygen (O₂) to form Aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃).

1. Let's translate that into an equation: Al + O₂ -> Al₂O₃

2. The equation needs to be balanced in order to have the same number of each type of atom on both sides.

Look at Al: 1 atom on the left, 2 atoms on the right -> we need to multiply Al by 2 on the left side.

2 Al + O₂ -> Al₂O₃ 

Now look at O: 2 atoms on the left, 3 atoms on the right -> we need to multiply O₂ by 1.5 on the left side.

2 Al + 1.5 O₂ -> Al₂O₃

3. Generally, equations should only contain whole number coefficients. How can we get rid of the 1.5? Like in math, we just multiply the whole equation by 2. This yields: 4 Al + 3 O₂ -> 2 Al₂O₃

 

I leave it for you to set up the equation for SnO. It is actually easier!

 

Hope this helps!