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11 grade chemistry others

Is alumina basic or acidic?

Profile image of Aniket Singh
1 Year agoGrade
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1 Answer

Profile image of Askiitians Tutor Team
1 Year ago

Alumina, which is also known as aluminum oxide (Al2O3), is considered amphoteric, meaning it can exhibit both acidic and basic properties depending on the circumstances.

In an acidic environment, alumina can act as a weak base by accepting protons (H+) from the medium. It can react with strong acids to form aluminum salts and water:

Al2O3 + 6HCl → 2AlCl3 + 3H2O

In a basic environment, alumina can behave as a weak acid by donating protons (H+) to the medium. It can react with strong bases to form aluminum hydroxide:

Al2O3 + 2NaOH → 2NaAlO2 + H2O

Therefore, alumina's amphoteric nature makes it capable of participating in reactions with both acids and bases.