Question

Aluminum hydroxide is insoluble in pure water but dissolves in a solution of sodium hydroxide because: Select the correct answer below: hydroxide ions neutralize the Al3 ion, a Lewis acid aluminum participates in an acid-base reaction in the presence of sodium hydroxide the excess of hydroxide ions pushes the equilibrium toward further dissolution of Al(OH)3 aluminum forms a complex ion with excess hydroxide

Answer 1

aluminum forms a complex ion with excess hydroxide

Step-by-step explanation:

Complex formation accounts for the dissolution of certain compounds. For instance,reaction of aluminum and sodium hydroxide yields insoluble aluminum hydroxide as follows;

Al(s) + 3NaOH(aq) -----> Al(OH)3(s) +Na(s)

However, in excess NaOH, the solid aluminum hydroxide dissolves as due to the formation of a complex Al(OH)4^- in the solution.