How does aluminum react with sodium hydroxide?

Question

How does aluminum react with sodium hydroxide?

Answer 1

While that is how aluminum ions react, aluminum metal reacts differently (water is needed for the reaction; it is done in aqueous solution):

2Al + 2NaOH + 6H2O ----> 2NaAl(OH)4 + 3H2

If you were to add more sodium hydroxide to the aluminum hydroxide formed by the reaction with aluminum ions, it would dissolve to form the same product.

Answer 2

It creates Aluminum Hydroxide Al(OH)3 which is a precipitate, and aqueous sodium NA+.  Balanced the equation looks like:

[Al]3+ + 3 NaOH ----------> Al(OH)3 + 3[Na}+