Final answer:
Yes, a reaction can occur to form alum when aluminum reacts with a base under specific conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, a reaction can occur to form alum when aluminum reacts with a base under specific conditions. One possible reaction is the reaction between aluminum and sodium hydroxide (NaOH), which generates hydrogen gas as one of the products. The balanced equation for this reaction is:
2Al(s) + 2NaOH(aq) + 6H2O(l) → 2Na[Al(OH)4](aq) + 3H2(g)
In this reaction, aluminum combines with hydroxide ions (OH-) from the base to form an aluminate ion (Al(OH)4-), which then forms the compound sodium aluminate (Na[Al(OH)4]).