Question

When the reaction between zinc metal and aluminum nitrate is balanced with the smallest possible integer coefficients, what is the coefficient for Zn?

Zn(s) + Al(NO3)3(aq) ------- Zn(NO3)2(aq) + Al(s)

a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 6

Answer 1

Answer: The coefficient of zinc in the given reaction is 3

Explanation:

A balanced chemical equation is defined as the equation in which total number of individual atoms on the reactant side is equal to the total number of individual atoms on product side.

Every balanced chemical equation follows law of conservation of mass.

The balanced chemical equation for the given chemical equation follows:

$3Zn(s)+2Al(NO_3)_3(aq.)\rightarrow 3Zn(NO_3)_2(aq.)+2Al(s)$

By Stoichiometry of the reaction:

3 moles of zinc reacts with 2 moles of aluminium nitrate to produce 3 moles of zinc nitrate and 2 moles of aluminium

Hence, the coefficient of zinc in the given reaction is 3