Question

Aluminum foils are used for:
(A) Wrapping chocolates and food stuff
(B) To prepare hydrogen
(C) Both A and B
(D) None of these

Answer 1

Hint: Aluminum foils are able to prevent oxygen gas and moisture from passing through the foil. Aluminum can get oxidized and act as a reducing agent when allowed to react with sodium hydroxide (NaOH).

Complete step by step solution:
We will get some information about aluminum foils.
- We know that these foils are made up of aluminum metal and it is very thin.
- Aluminum is an element which is of the boron family. It has an atomic number of 13. The electronic configuration of aluminum atoms is $[Ne]3{s^2}3{p^1}$.
- Even though the p-orbital is unfilled in aluminum, it acts as a metal. It has a tendency to lose electrons and become cation.
- Its foils are very useful. They are used in wrapping food and other items. Its special characteristic is that it does not allow the oxygen and moisture to pass through.
- Aluminum foils are also used to prepare hydrogen gas. When sodium hydroxide is allowed to react with metallic aluminum foils, it forms a metal complex involving aluminum along with hydrogen. The reaction of production of hydrogen gas from aluminum foils can be given as:
\[2Al + 2NaOH + 6{H_2}O \to 2Na[Al{(OH)_4}] + 3{H_2}\]
Thus, we can conclude that aluminum foils are useful for both wrapping of chocolates and foodstuff and in preparation of hydrogen.

So, the correct answer to the question is (C).

Note: Note that aluminum metal is cheap and easily available. So, this is the advantage of its use in food packing materials. Aluminum foil is also used as a shield for radiation. It reflects the radiation and acts as a barrier between radiation and inner material.