I constructed a small hho generator for experimental purposes. I needed to add a cooling condenser to the unit because of a overheating problem. I was using a old heater core from a vehicle, soldered some joints to make some connections. the solution seemed to have eaten the solder I used, which was normal lead free solder used in water pipes. I was going to invest into a trans cooler core which is made of aluminum, but I need to know if the solution will eat up the aluminum. I also thought about using a condenser core from a broken window a/c, which is made of copper tubing. any advise would be very help full
Aluminum, yes; copper, no. Aluminum is attacked by both acids and bases (it is what is called amphoteric); copper is attacked by neither -- although nitric acid will attack copper by oxidizing it. Solder joints may be attacked by acid, but may be more or less immune to attack by strong bases, depending on what is in the solder.
Yes it will, especially for the aluminum. Since sodium hydroxide is strongly alkaline in an aqueous solution, it can corrode metals just like acids can. You will have to use synthetic pipes instead of metal ones that are resistant to caustic solutions.
Figure out the Eknots using a chart. Cu -- Cu2+ = Enot of ? Al3+ --- Al = Enot of ? It needs to be positive to spontaneously react. I believe from memory that Al -- Al3+ is 1.3volts, so the reverse is negative. Meanwhile Cu is something under .5 volts, so it won't be enough to make the reaction work. This is further understood because aluminum requires a lot of energy to smelt from the oxide (which is the reverse reaction of Al3+ -- Al that you're talking about here) Secondly, do your homework man, it's REALLY obnoxious to add the why or why not and phrase everything exactly as your homework asks. Try to ask a question about the topic so you actually learn. For example, what are reduction potentials in terms of, for example, Cu --- Cu2+
