Question

Explain and give reason why aluminium vessels should not be cleaned with powders containing alkalis

Answer 1

Aluminium is an amphoteric metal. Amphoteric metals are those metals that react with both acids and bases. Now if we use powders for cleaning the vessels which contain alkalis(which are water soluble bases), the aluminium will react with the alkali to form salts that can be poisonous and harmful to our health.