Question

What type of reaction is \[Al + NaOH\] ? What are the products?

Answer 1

Hint :Combination, decomposition, single-displacement, double-displacement, and combustion are the five basic forms of chemical reactions. By examining the reactants and products of a reaction, we can categorise it into one of these groups.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
Aluminium, like all other active metals, dissolves in heavy acids and produces hydrogen gas and salts as the products. Aluminium, on the other hand, dissolves in strong bases like sodium hydroxide, commonly known as lye.
A displacement reaction occurs when aluminium reacts with sodium hydroxide (where one element is more reactive than the other and displaces it in a reaction).
In a molecule, a displacement reaction occurs when an atom or a group of atoms is replaced by another atom.
$A + B - C \to A - C + B$
The above equation only exists when $A$ is more reactive as compared to $B$ .
Aluminium is an amphoteric element, meaning it reacts with acids and bases to form a salt and hydrogen. The reaction is highly exothermic.
The equation of the reaction is $Al + NaOH + {H_2}O \to NaAl{\left( {OH} \right)_4} + {H_2}$
The balanced equation of the reaction is $2Al + 2NaOH + 6{H_2}O \to 2NaAl{\left( {OH} \right)_4} + 3{H_2}$
Aluminium produces sodium tetrahydroxoaluminate and hydrogen as it reacts with sodium hydroxide and water.
Therefore, the reaction \[Al + NaOH\] is a displacement reaction. The products of the reaction are sodium tetrahydroxoaluminate and hydrogen gas.

Note :
 Sodium aluminate is an inorganic chemical that can be used to make aluminium hydroxide for a variety of industrial and scientific purposes. Pure sodium aluminate (anhydrous) is a crystalline white solid with the formula $NaAl{O_2},NaAl{\left( {OH} \right)_4}$ (hydrated), $N{a_2}O.A{l_2}{O_3}$ , or $N{a_2}A{l_2}{O_4}$. Sodium aluminate can be found as a solution or a solid in the commercial market.