Al + H2SiO3 = H2 + Al(SiO3)2

Al aluminum + H_2O_3Si metasilicic acid ⟶ H_2 hydrogen + Al(SiO3)2

Balance the chemical equation algebraically: Al + H_2O_3Si ⟶ H_2 + Al(SiO3)2 Add stoichiometric coefficients, c_i, to the reactants and products: c_1 Al + c_2 H_2O_3Si ⟶ c_3 H_2 + c_4 Al(SiO3)2 Set the number of atoms in the reactants equal to the number of atoms in the products for Al, H, O and Si: Al: | c_1 = c_4 H: | 2 c_2 = 2 c_3 O: | 3 c_2 = 6 c_4 Si: | c_2 = 2 c_4 Since the coefficients are relative quantities and underdetermined, choose a coefficient to set arbitrarily. To keep the coefficients small, the arbitrary value is ordinarily one. For instance, set c_1 = 1 and solve the system of equations for the remaining coefficients: c_1 = 1 c_2 = 2 c_3 = 2 c_4 = 1 Substitute the coefficients into the chemical reaction to obtain the balanced equation: Answer: | | Al + 2 H_2O_3Si ⟶ 2 H_2 + Al(SiO3)2