Which of the following is the correctly balanced chemical equation for the reaction between aluminum and oxygen to form aluminum oxide?

• A. 2Al + 3O_2 → 2AlO_3
• B. Al + O_2 → AlO_2
• C. 2Al + O_2 → Al_2O_3
• D. 4Al + 3O_2 → 2Al_2O_3

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the reactants and products in the chemical reaction: aluminum (Al) reacts with oxygen (O_2) to form aluminum oxide (Al_2O_3).
2. Write the unbalanced chemical equation: \(\mathrm{Al} + \mathrm{O}_2 \rightarrow \mathrm{Al}_2\mathrm{O}_3\).
3. Balance the aluminum atoms first by ensuring the number of Al atoms is the same on both sides. Since aluminum oxide has 2 Al atoms, place a coefficient of 2 in front of \(\mathrm{Al}_2\mathrm{O}_3\) and adjust Al accordingly.
4. Balance the oxygen atoms next. Oxygen appears as \(\mathrm{O}_2\) molecules on the reactant side and as 3 oxygen atoms in \(\mathrm{Al}_2\mathrm{O}_3\). Use coefficients to balance the total number of oxygen atoms on both sides.
5. Verify that the number of atoms for each element is equal on both sides of the equation, confirming the equation is balanced.