Question

Give reasons:

(i) Conc. HNO₃ can be transported in aluminium container.

(ii) A mixture of dilute NaOH and aluminium pieces is used to open drain.

(iii) Graphite is used as lubricant.

(iv) Diamond is used as an abrasive.

(v) Aluminium alloys are used to make aircraft body.

(vi) Aluminium utensils should not be kept in water overnight.

(vii) Aluminium wire is used to make transmission cables.

Answer 1

(i) Concentrated HNO₃ can be stored and transported in aluminium containers as it reacts with aluminium to form a thin protective oxide layer on the aluminium surface. This oxide layer renders aluminium passive.

(ii) Sodium hydroxide and aluminium react to form sodium tetrahydroxoaluminate(III) and hydrogen gas. The pressure of the produced hydrogen gas is used to open blocked drains.

(iii) Graphite has a layered structure and different layers of graphite are bonded to each other by weak van der Waals’ forces. These layers can slide over each other. Graphite is soft and slippery. Therefore, graphite can be used as a lubricant.

(iv) In diamond, carbon is sp³ hybridised. Each carbon atom is bonded to four other carbon atoms with the help of strong covalent bonds. These covalent bonds are present throughout the surface, giving it a very rigid 3-D structure. It is very difficult to break this extended covalent bonding and for this reason, diamond is the hardest substance known. Thus, it is used as an abrasive and for cutting tools.

(v) Aluminium has a high tensile strength and is very light in weight. It can also be alloyed with various metals such as Cu, Mn, Mg, Si, and Zn. It is very malleable and ductile. Therefore, it is used in making aircraft bodies.

(vi) The oxygen present in water reacts with aluminium to form a thin layer of aluminium oxide. This layer prevents aluminium from further reaction. However, when water is kept in an aluminium vessel for long periods of time, some amount of aluminium oxide may dissolve in water. As aluminium ions are harmful, water should not be stored in aluminium vessels overnight.

(vii) Silver, copper, and aluminium are among the best conductors of electricity. Silver is an expensive metal and silver wires are very expensive. Copper is quite expensive and is also very heavy. Aluminium is a very ductile metal. Thus, aluminium is used in making wires for electrical conduction.