"George" George@least wrote in message
...

"Steve Peterson" wrote in message
link.net...
2Al + 6HCl -- 2AlCl3 + 3 H2 sorry, no subscripts for email
but 2Al + 6OH- -- Al2O3 + 3 H2O

The proper equation
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives...1850.Ch.r.html
The process
http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/demos/hydrogenbubbles.html

so the reaction with acid produces hydrogen gas

Aluminum chlorhydrate - anti perspirant.

http://www.scienceproject.com/projec...nior/SC040.asp

It says:
"Explanation: The aluminum foil in the presence of NaOH pellets reacts with
water, producing hydrogen gas. As the gas rises from the flask, it travels
through the tube to the beaker of water. Since hydrogen gas is less dense
than water, it bubbles out of the water.

When producing a gas, more molecules are being made. The number of
collisions the molecules make against their container makes pressure.
Therefore, the more molecules made, the more collisions occur, creating a
greater pressure. When the gas is fed into the upside down test tube, the
bubbles of gas create a pressure which pushes the water out of the test
tube.

The hydrogen gas now in the test tube is flammable. So when I hold the tube
over the flame, the hydrogen gas ignites and creates a popping sound. It is
like a tiny bomb or fireworks.

Al + NaOH --- H2 + Al3+ + Na+

H2 + O2 --- H2O + energy"

The first reaction isn't balanced, where did the O go? The explanation says
Al reacts with water; where is that reaction? No problem with the second
rxn, but it produces water, rather than reacting with it.