Question

Aluminum powder is used in thermite welding because:
A. It is a strong reducing agent
B. It is a strong oxidizing agent
C. It is a corrosion resistant
D. It is a good conductor of heat

Answer 1

Hint: Aluminum powder is used to make flakes. If someone breathes them in, the aluminum powder then does not cause a large destruction but minor irritation.

Complete step by step answer:
Aluminum powder is used in several places such as: refractory, thermite, metallic paint, etc. different size particles used in aluminum powder for energy in rockets, water splitting, etc. \[{(Al - Al)_2}\]is the component of pure aluminum powder, when it react with \[Cu\]it forms \[A{l_2}Cu\] and along with this it also form copper oxide due to the oxidation. The oxide film on aluminum powder is hygroscopic. Oxidizing agent is defined as the acceptor of electrons. It is a chemical compound that transfers oxygen atoms or a substance that gains electrons in a redox reaction. An oxidizing agent is a reactant in the chemical reaction which helps in oxidation and reduces itself and gaining electro from the other reactants.
Example of oxidizing agents:
Hydrogen peroxide, ozone, oxygen, etc.
Oxidizing agents are also known as oxidants and oxidizers.
Reducing agent is defined as the donor of an electron. It gets oxidized when it loses electrons in the redox reaction. Reduction refers to the removal of oxygen from the compound.
Example of a reducing agent is iron.
Let’s take an equation in which we understand oxidizing agent and reducing agent:
\[{C_6}{H_{12}}{O_6} + 6{O_2} \to 6C{o_2} + 6{H_2}O\]
Reducing agent: \[{C_6}{H_{12}}{O_6}\]
Oxidizing agent:\[{O_2}\]
Corrosion is defined as the damaged cause to metals, stones, other material. The process in which refined metal is converted into more stable forms such as oxides.
Thermite is a pyrotechnic composition of metal powder and metal oxides. Or in simple words we say that reduction of metallic oxides with \[Al\]is called the thermite process. Aluminum is used because it is a high reducing agent and it reduces the \[F{e_2}{O_3}\]. The equation is:
\[F{e_2}{O_3} + 2Al \to 2Fe + A{l_2}{O_3}\]

Hence, option(a) is the correct answer.

Note:
In the thermite process, we use aluminum because it easily reduces iron and produces large amounts of heat.