* Aluminum (Al) forms a +3 charge when it becomes an ion (Al³⁺).

* Sulfite (SO₃) has a -2 charge.

To form a neutral compound, the charges must balance. Therefore, the correct formula for aluminum sulfite is Al₂(SO₃)₃.

Here's how we get that:

* To balance the charges, we need two aluminum ions (2 x +3 = +6) and three sulfite ions (3 x -2 = -6).

* The subscript numbers represent the number of each ion in the compound.