Amalgamations. Again
Chemistry
Level
1
Aluminium can form an amalgam with mercury. However, when I put drops of liquid mercury on a solid aluminium, no reaction occurs.
Which is the most probable explanation of this situation?
There is a layer of aluminium oxide between the substances
Mercury is too volatile so it evaporates before it can react with the aluminium
Solid aluminium cannot form amalgamation with mercury
There is a layer of mercury oxide between the substances
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Aluminium is usually covered with an oxide layer, preventing further reactions. Therefore, to cause a reaction between them, oxide layers should be removed by acids before pouring mercury on its surface.