To study the reaction of NaOH with Aluminium metal and dilute HCl.
Most metals react with acids to generate a salt and hydrogen gas. A single displacement reaction can occur with metals that are more active than acids. Zinc metal, for example, interacts with hydrochloric acid to create zinc chloride and hydrogen gas.
Zn(s)+2HCl(aq)→ZnCl2(aq)+H2(g)
Bases generate hydrogen gas when they react with certain metals, such as zinc or aluminium. When sodium hydroxide combines with zinc and water, sodium zincate is formed, as well as hydrogen gas.
Zn(s)+2NaOH(aq)+2H2O(l)→Na2Zn(OH)4(aq)+H2(g)
Sodium hydroxide is a base. It reacts with aluminium metal to produce hydrogen gas. It also neutralises the hydrochloric acid to produce sodium chloride salt and water.
2NaOH (aq) + 2Al (s) + 2H2O (l) → 2NaAlO2 (aq) + H2 (g)
NaOH (aq) + HCl (aq) → NaCl (aq) + H2O (l)