Aluminum reacts with oxygen to form aluminum oxide. Select the correct unbalanced skeleton equation for this reaction. A. Al(s) + 0(g) - AIO(s) B. Al203(s) - Al(s) + 02(8) C. Al(s) - 02(8) + Al203(s) D. Al(s) + 02(8) - Al203(s)

D. Al(s) + O₂(g) → Al₂O₃(s)

Explanation:

Aluminum is a solid metal, so it is written as Al(s).

Oxygen is a diatomic gas, so we write this compound as O₂(g).

Aluminum oxide has the formula Al₂O₃ because in oxides the oxidation number of oxygen atom is -2 and for aluminum, the oxidation number is 3. Thus, we write this compound as Al₂O₃(s).

Now, we have to found the chemical equation in which the reactants (left side) are Al(s) and O₂(g) while the product (right side) is Al₂O₃(s). From the options, we can see that the correct is (D):

Al(s) + O₂(g) → Al₂O₃(s)