Answer to Question #79948 in General Chemistry for Arianna

Question #79948

4Al + 3O₂ → 2Al₂O₃
How does 4Al+3O₂ turn into 2Al₂O₃? WHat type of dividing is going on? Shouldn't it be 4Al3O₂? (the original problem was to make Al+O₂ into a balanced equation, and I understood it until that last part.) I know it has something to do with the fact that the charge of Al is +3 and the charge of O is -2 but I don't know what to do with that. Is +3 and -2 supposed to add up to something? Sorry I'm just really confused.

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