Question

Write a chemical equation showing that Aluminium has more affinity than Iron for Oxygen.

Answer 1

The chemical reaction that shows Aluminium has more affinity than Iron for Oxygen is the thermite reaction.

The chemical equation for the thermite reaction is,

$$\begin{gathered} 2\mathrm{Al}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{Fe}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3\left(\mathrm{s}\right)\to {\mathrm{Al}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+2\mathrm{Fe}\left(\mathrm{s}\right) \\ \mathrm{Aluminium}\mathrm{Ferric}\mathrm{Aluminium}\mathrm{Iron} \\ \mathrm{oxide}\mathrm{oxide} \end{gathered}$$

• Because of the higher affinity of the Aluminium for Oxygen, it is used as a reducing agent in the thermite reaction.