Does Aluminum React With Sodium Hydroxide?

By Staff WriterLast Updated December 10, 2023

Aluminum reacts with sodium hydroxide. Sodium hydroxide is otherwise known as lye or caustic soda.

When aluminum and sodium hydroxide come into contact with one another, there is quite a vigorous reaction.

For instance, there was a situation in which an aluminum tanker that was carrying a 25 percent sodium hydroxide solution suffered damaged due to the pressurization of hydrogen gas that occurs when aluminum and sodium hydroxide react with one another. This accident occurred in the United Kingdom in 1986. Aluminum sulfate, however, may be mixed with sodium hydroxide to form aluminum hydroxide, a compound that is used in filtering out particles during water treatment.