Question

How can I balance this equation? ___ AlBr3 + ____ K2SO4 ---> ____ KBr + ____ Al2(SO4)3

Answer 1

`AlBr_3 + K_2SO_4 -> KBr + Al_2(SO_4)_3`

How I balance equations is by first of all dividing the equation into two parts - reactants and products.

Reactants
Al = 3
Br = 3
K = 2
S = 1
O = 4

Products
Al = 2
Br = 1
K = 1
S = 3
O = 12

Remember all atoms within the brackets get multiplied by the number outwith them.

Step 1
Put a 6 before KBr

`AlBr_3 + K_2SO_4 -> 6KBr + Al_2(SO_4)_3`

Step 2
Put a 2 before `AlBr_3`
- this has now balanced the number of Aluminium and Bromine atoms.

`2AlBr_3 + K_2SO_4 -> 6KBr + Al_2(SO_4)_3`

Step 3
Put a 3 before `K_2SO_4`

This balances the Potassium, Sulphur and Oxyen

`2AlBr_3 + 3K_2SO_4 -> 6KBr + Al_2(SO_4)_3`

Now check the reactants and products:

Reactants
Al - 2
Br - 6
K - 6
S - 3
O - 12

Products
Al - 2
Br - 6
K - 6
S - 3
O - 12

We have now successfully balanced the equation

I hope this helps!