Which of the following is the balanced chemical equation for the reaction of aluminum sulfide with water to form aluminum hydroxide and hydrogen sulfide?

• A. 2Al2S3 + 6H2O → 4Al(OH)3 + 6H2S
• B. Al2S3 + 6H2O → 2Al(OH)3 + 3H2S
• C. Al2S3 + 3H2O → 2Al(OH)3 + 3H2S
• D. Al2S3 + 2H2O → 2Al(OH)3 + H2S

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the reactants and products in the chemical reaction. The reactants are aluminum sulfide (Al2S3) and water (H2O), and the products are aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S).
2. Write the unbalanced chemical equation using the chemical formulas of the reactants and products: Al2S3 + H2O → Al(OH)3 + H2S.
3. Balance the aluminum (Al) atoms first. There are 2 aluminum atoms in Al2S3, so you need 2 Al(OH)3 on the product side: Al2S3 + H2O → 2Al(OH)3 + H2S.
4. Next, balance the sulfur (S) atoms. There are 3 sulfur atoms in Al2S3, so you need 3 H2S on the product side: Al2S3 + H2O → 2Al(OH)3 + 3H2S.
5. Finally, balance the hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) atoms. There are 6 water molecules needed to provide the 6 oxygen atoms for 2 Al(OH)3 and 6 hydrogen atoms for 3 H2S: Al2S3 + 6H2O → 2Al(OH)3 + 3H2S.