aDetermine the oxidation numbers of each element in both the reactants and products of this oxidation-reduction reaction of aluminumbWhich element is oxidized, or loses electrons, in this reaction? cWhich element is reduced, or gains electrons, in this reaction? cant figure out, please explain!
Aluminum shoes are more expensive to buy, thus the increased chargeThey are also 10 times LIGHTER than steel shoes, so will be used on horses that tend to have some extra knee actionI show strictly APHA, where they prefer NO knee actionTherefore, I only shoe my horses with aluminum SO, it depends on if you show hunters or jumpersJumpers don't careYou aren't judged on the horse's movementHunters are different, and very much stress the importance of a nicely moving horseYou'll only find aluminum shoes on the AQHA jumpersUSEF hunter/jumpers are about 50/50 aluminum and steel.
2 Al(s) + 6H2O(g) - 2 Al(OH)3 + 3 H2 All pure elements like Al(s) and H2(g) have an oxidation number of zero O in a comp[ound like water has anoxidation number of -2, Therefore H is +1 Al(OH)3 Al in here has an oxidation number the same as its ion charge +3 The O and the H are the same as beforeSo what has changedAl went from 0 to +3 and H went from +1 to 0 So aluminum lost electrons that is oxidationand H gained electrons that is reduction The OA was H2O and the RA was Al(s)
Aluminum has no wearabilitySteel shoes can be re-set a number of times, which can save you moneyIf you ride your horse out on trails at all, you'll go through shoes like crazyAluminum is such soft metal that it's really not practical for most horses.
Like others have pointed out aluminum are lighter but more expensive and must be replaced more often, but they are also much lighterWhen I am seriously competing I put aluminum shoes on my horses just for the summer show season to take advantage of the lighter weight, then back to steel for the rest of the year (and with steel being as durable as it is I can keep the same pair stored away to be put back on in the fall.) It's your call, its not a HUGE difference but it might help him pick his feet up better.
Unless you have a specific reason for aluminum, the steel is betterIt is more rigid, and supplies more support to the hoof wallThe aluminum bends if the horse steps on something, stressing the hoof wall I used them for an OTTB who had weak, shelly hooves in frontHe threw shoes like second graders throw spitballsand when a steel shoe would come off, so would half his hoof wallI switched to aluminum; the smaller nails stressed the hoof less, and the light weight put less stress on the nailsHe still threw the shoes, but his hoof wall stayed intact - a great improvementI evented and hunter paced this horse in these shoesThey wore pretty well, and I had them reset many timesI din't use the racing plates (even lighter and thinner), but got regular shoes made from aluminumHowever, unless you have a similar hoof problem, I'd stick with steel Edit: they're more expensive because aluminum costs more, and he can't buy them in bulk because fewer people use themThey're also harder to put on properly, because the aluminum nails bend really easilyThey can be harder to shape, again because they bend easily and if you're used to bending steel, you have to develop the touch for it.
