What is observed when hot concentrated caustic soda solution is added to (a) Zinc (b) Aluminium? Write balanced equations.
What is observed when hot concentrated caustic soda solution is added to (a) Zinc (b) Aluminium? Write balanced equations.

Answer:

a) In the presence of hot concentrated caustic soda or hot concentrated sodium hydroxide, zinc reacts to form zincate sodium and hydrogen.

Zn + 2NaOH → Na2ZnO2 + H2

b) Aluminum reacts with sodium hydroxide to form sodium aluminate (aluminum oxide), hydrogen, and sodium oxide.

2Al + 2NaOH + 2H2O → 2Na2AlO2 + 3H2