a metal X with a shiny appearance reacts with a base to form a compound Y. The metal has a industrial application related to storage of acid. A) Identity the metal X and show the formation of its oxide by electron formation method. B) how does it reacts with a base write equation. C) what is its industrial application and why. D) what is the nature of its oxide.
Answers
(A) The metal X would be aluminium, aluminium is used to make storage containers for concentrated nitric acid. Due to conc. HNO3 's oxidizing nature, it renders Aluminium passive due to the formation of an impervious layer of Aluminium Oxide. The nascent oxygen evolved from concentrated nitric acid immediately oxidizes aluminium to give Al₂O₃ .
2Al ----------> 2Al⁺³ + 6e⁻
3O + 6e⁻ -----------> 3O⁻²
2Al⁺³ + 3O⁻² -----------> Al₂O₃ ( Aluminium oxide formed)
(B) Aluminium reacts with hot concentrated alkali such as Sodium or Potassium Hydroxide to give the soluble aluminate salt and hydrogen gas.
2Al + 2KOH + 2H₂O--------> 2KAlO₂ + 3H₂↑
(C) Aluminium metal is used to make a number of alloys such as duralumin and magnalium. Aluminium is used in making aircraft and automobile parts as it is light-weight. It is malleable and ductile and electrically-conductive so it is used to make conducting wires and electrical parts.
(D) Aluminium oxide is an amphoteric oxide.