Since zinc cannot directly reduce water, it will react with water to produce zinc hydroxide and hydrogen gas. They will all, however, react with bases such as sodium hydroxide to form salts such as sodium sulfate as explored in detail below. In other words, sodium will readily reduce water, but zinc will not. It is an acid base reaction. The reaction mechanism for this is given here: $$\ce{Zn + 2 H2O → Zn(OH)2 + H2}$$ $$\ce{Zn(OH)2 → ZnO + H2O }$$ But earlier on in the chapter, there is explicit mention of the reaction between aluminum metal ( which also naturally come with an oxide coat) and aqueous sodium hydroxide, to form sodium aluminate and dihydrogen. The point is that Z does not react as an acid in the reaction above since the reaction is not an acid-base one, but rather oxidation-reduction. Then, the statement could've been: "Magnesium metal does not immediately react with aqueous sodium hydroxide (owing to the presence of an oxide layer)". Sodium Oxide. Since aluminium oxide is an amphoteric oxide, it does react with the alkali sodium hydroxide in an aqueous medium. The reaction is highly exothermic. Sodium oxide is a simple strongly basic oxide. It is basic because it contains the oxide ion, O 2-, which is a very strong base with a high tendency to combine with hydrogen ions. it will react with both acids and bases to form salts. 2 NaOH (aq) + Zn(OH)2 (s) ---> Na2ZnO2 (aq) + 2H2O (l) The hydrated form of sodium zincate is a complex ion Zn(OH)4 ^2- so the product above can be written as:- Firstly you have given the question as a word equation so I will always answer with a word equation. The zinc will then decompose into zinc oxide and water. Copper sulphate, for example, turns the solution a characteristic light blue. Al is amphoteric in nature, so it can react with both acid and base. 2NaOH + … All of these answers are correct but i havent seen one that helps you in the future to not have to ask questions like this in the first place. On treatment with NaOH, Al gives sodium aluminate salt and hydrogen gas. Zinc Hydroxide is an example of an AMPHOTERIC oxide - i.e. I have heard different conclusions from different people, and … This process is called a displacement reaction, and it happens because sodium is a much more reactive metal. I have a word equation that looks like this in my notebook: magnesium oxide + sodium hydroxide = magnesium hydroxide + sodium oxide (MgO) (NaOH) (MgOH) (NaO) Now my brain is very tired, and I'm sure there are plenty of more informed people than myself that could explain to me if these can actually react or not and why that is. The product of this reaction is Sodium Zincate (Na2ZnO2) and water. Zinc, on the other hand, produces a white colour. 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