or aluminum ? and what other gases are released?
Aluminium does not normally react with water because of a surface coating of the highly unreactive Al2O3 that forms on exposure to atmospheric oxygen. In the presence of strong base, however, this compound dissolves due to complexation by hydroxide, similarly to how silver chloride dissolves in ammonia. Al2O3(s) + 2OH-(aq) + 3H2O(l) ----- 2[Al(OH)4]-(aq) Once this has occured, aluminium metal, a very strong reducing agent, is exposed to water. 2Al(s) + 6H+(aq) ----- 2Al3+(aq) + 3H2(g) Even though the solution is alkaline, there is still a low concentration of H+ formed by the autoprotolytic dissociation of water. The Al3+ formed then reacts with hydroxide to produce more [Al(OH)4]-. Yes, the hydrogen gas is from the water.
