How does aluminium react with the following:

(a) Air, (b) Water,

(c) Acid, (d) Base.

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Solution

Reaction of aluminium:

(a) Air: Aluminium forms oxide at room temperature.
Aluminium powder burns in air at about 800⁰C forming its oxide and nitride with a bright light.
4Al + 3O₂ → 2Al₂O₃
2Al + N₂ → 2AlN

(b) Water: Water has no action on aluminium due to layer of oxide on it.
When steam is passed over pure heated aluminium, hydrogen is produced.
2Al + 3H₂O → Al₂O₃+ 3H₂

(c)Acid: It reacts with acids to produce salt and hydrogen.
2Al + 6HCl → 2AlCl₃ + 3H₂
Dilute sulphuric acid reacts with metal to liberate hydrogen.
2Al + 3H₂SO₄ (dilute) → Al₂(SO₄)₃ + 3H₂

Concentrated sulphuric acid reacts with aluminium to produce sulphur dioxide.
2Al + 6H₂SO₄ → Al₂(SO₄)₃ + 6H₂O + 3SO₂
Dilute and concentrated nitric acid does not attack the metal aluminium.

(d) Base: Aluminium reacts with boiling and dilute alkalies to produce meta aluminate while with fused alkali produce aluminate.
2Al+ 2NaOH +2H₂O → 2NaAlO₂ +3H₂
(Sodium meta aluminate)
2Al + 6NaOH → 2NaAlO₃ +3H₂
(Sodium aluminate)

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