Identify the compound x on the basis of the reaction given below. also write the name and chemical formula of A,B,C X.............+Zn...........=A+H2 X.............+HCL ..........=B+H2O X..............+CH3COOH........=C+H2O ???????????

1 Answer
Jacob T.
Jun 16, 2018
  • #"X" = "Al(OH)"_3#
  • #"A" = "Zn"["Al(OH)"_4]_2#
  • #"B" = "AlCl"_3#
  • #"C" = "Al(CH"_3 "COO")_3#

Explanation:

  • #"X"# reacts with metals to release hydrogen gas #"H"_2# in the first reaction, demonstrating acidic behavior;

  • #"X"# neutralizes acids to produce water in the second and third reactions and acts as a base.

#"X"# react both as an acid and as a base and is therefore amphoteric (not to be confused with "amphiprotic").

Elements on the left end of the periodic table tend to possess metallic properties and form basic oxides; most of those on the right end are non-metals and form acidic oxides. Elements in between, such as aluminum #"Al"#, possess a mix of both metallic and non-metallic characteristics and form amphoteric oxides.

It happens that aluminum hydroxide, # "Al" "(OH)"_3#, exhibits such behaviors:

  • #"Al(OH)"_3# oxidizes reactive metals to form aluminate #["Al(OH)"_4]^(-)# salts of the metal and release hydrogen #"H"_2#
    #ul(2 color(white)(l) "Al(OH)"_3) + "Zn" to ul("Zn"["Al(OH)"_4]_2) + "H"_2 (g)#

  • #"Al(OH)"_3# neutralizes acids to form salts containing aluminum ions #"Al"^(3+)#:
    #ul("Al(OH)"_3) + 3 color(white)(l) "HCl" to ul("AlCl"_3) + 3 color(white)(l) "H"_2"O"#
    #ul("Al(OH)"_3) + 3 color(white)(l) "CH"_3"COOH" to ul("Al"("CH"_3"COO")_3) + 3 color(white)(l) "H"_2"O"#

References
"Aluminate", the English Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminate

"Acid-base properties of oxides", Lumenlearning, https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-chemistry/chapter/acid-base-properties-of-oxides/

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