What happens when aluminum is added to sodium hydroxide?

1 Answer
anor277
Mar 7, 2018

Well, aluminum is an active metal...

Explanation:

...that could be oxidized by BASE as well as by acid....

And we could represent this oxidation by the reaction...

#Al(s) + 3H_2O(l) +HO^(-) rarr Al(OH)_4^(-)+3/2H_2(g)uarr#

Aluminum metal is oxidized to aluminate ion, #Al(OH)_4^(-)#, and WATER is REDUCED...

The reactivity of aluminum is often masked by the passivation of the aluminum surface by oxide formation. Nevertheless, aluminum is a very reactive metal....

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