Aluminum in Sodium Hydroxide Solution

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From: Eric Muller (emuller@isaac.exploratorium.edu)
Date: Mon Jan 26 2004 - 10:20:06 PST 

Message-Id: <a05100300bc3b0a7cc8bb@[192.168.111.226]>
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 10:20:06 -0800
From: Eric Muller <emuller@isaac.exploratorium.edu>
Subject: Aluminum in Sodium Hydroxide Solution

Hi Sally,
You asked about the chemistry of dissolving an aluminum can in an
aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (a great demo you did at
Chemipalooza).

I found a web page from the University of Siegen in Germany that has
a brief description of the chemistry of this reaction.
It is at:
http://www.pc.chemie.uni-siegen.de/pci/versuche/english/v44-10.html

This reaction is more complicated than I thought. Aluminum has a
protective oxide coating that is prevented from forming with the
addition of NaOH. 

-- 
Eric Muller
Exploratorium Teacher Institute
Science Educator
3601 Lyon St.
San Francisco, CA 94123

415-561-0386
emuller@exploratorium.edu

www.doscience.com

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