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Question
Aluminium dissolves in mineral acids and aqueous alkalies and thus shows amphoteric character. A piece of aluminium foil is treated with dilute hydrochloric acid or dilute sodium hydroxide solution in a test tube and on bringing a burning matchstick near the mouth of the test tube, a pop sound indicates the evolution of hydrogen gas. The same activity when performed with concentrated nitric acid, reaction doesn’t proceed. Explain the reason.
Solution
Al being amphoteric dissolves both in acids and alkalies evolving H2 gas which bums with a pop sound.
\[\ce{2Al + 6HCl -> 2AlCl3 + 3H2}\]
\[\ce{2Al + 2NaOH + 2H2O -> \underset{Sod meta-aluminate}{2NaAlO2} + 3H2}\]
With conic. HNO3, Al becomes passive and the reaction does not proceed. This passivity is due to the formation of a thin protective layer of its oxide (Al2O3) on the surface of the metal which prevents further action.
\[\ce{2Al + 6HNO3 -> Al2O3 + 6NO2 + 3H2O}\]
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