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Question:

explain the following observation :(1) aluminium foil does not react with water?

(2) when aluminium foil is dipped in mercury for a short time and then placed in water a reaction is seen to occur with hydrogen gas being one of the products.?????

Answer:

Aluminium is very reactive in air and forms a protective oxide coating. This protects it when placed in water as aluminium oxide is unreactive with water. When immersed in mercury the oxide coating is removed and therefore the aluminium itself reacts when the cleaned aluminium metal is immersed in water.

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