In the reaction of AL metal with aqueous potassium hydroxide, what type of reaction is occurring?
-REDOX, Al metal is being reduced
or
-REDOX, Al metal is being oxidized.
In a redox equation, if something is reduced another something must be oxidized. In the reaction of Al with KOH:
Al + KOH ==> Al(OH)4^- + H2 (not balanced)
The Al has an oxidation state of zero on the left and +3 on the right.
Oxidation is the loss of electrons.
Reduction is the gain of electrons.
Must Al lose or gain electrons to go from zero to +3?