Lesson Plan

Lesson : Aluminium

Aim :

To study the bonding, properties and chemical reactions of some aluminium compounds.

Learning Outcomes :

At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• explain the bonding and properties of aluminium oxide and aluminium chloride

• explain the acidity of aqueous solutions of aluminium salts and their reactions with
concentrated aqueous alkali

• state some important uses of the aluminium metal in relation to its resistance to rusting,
good electrical and thermal conductivity and low density

• state the uses of compounds containing aluminium in industry.

Assumed prior knowledge :

Students should already be familiar with the concept of:

1. covalent and ionic bonding

2. acidic, basic and amphoteric behaviour of oxides

3. alloys

Underlying Principles

1. Making the invisible, visible.

2. Enabling students to know what to look for.

Differentiation

Questions in the student notes are designed to enable all students to complete the activity.
The pop-up answers are provided for the students to view when they have considered their
responses. Worksheet questions include questions that require recall, understanding and
application of the new concepts learned.

© 2004 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 1 of 4

Development of Lesson :

No. Steps Strategy Resources

1 Set Induction.
(Ascertaining prior • Teacher to get students to recall the
knowledge and concept of ionic and covalent bonding
introducing lesson and how the high polarising power of the
topic for the day). cation present can result in the presence
of some covalent character in the
compound. Teacher to get students to
explain what is meant by basic, acidic and
amphoteric oxides.
• Teacher to point out lesson objectives of
the day.

2 Student Activity Teacher to go through Activities 1 - 3 with • Courseware

the students.

Activity 1 : Al2O3 and AlCl3

Students get to learn that aluminium

oxide is amphoteric and that aluminium
chloride is an ionic solid but a covalent
compound in the vapour state. They get
to relate these properties to the high
polarising power of the Al3+ ion.

Activity 2 : Aluminium salts

Students get to view the reaction of

aluminium chloride in aqueous sodium
hydroxide.

Activity 3 : Uses

Students get to view some uses of the

alloys and compounds of aluminium
based on their properties.

3 Evaluation • Students to answer questions in the • Worksheet

student worksheet on their own.

4 Extension activity • Students to read up reference materials • References

on their own.

© 2004 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 2 of 4

Worksheet Answers

1. Al2O3 and AlCl3

1. 1 A

1.2 Aluminium atom loses three electrons to form aluminium ion, Al3+ while the oxygen
atom gains two electrons to form an oxide ion, O2−. Since both of the ions are of
opposite charges, they attract one another very strongly to form an ionic bond. Two
aluminium ions will bond with three oxide ions to form an ionic compound, Al2O3.

However Al3+ has a very high charge density due to its small size and high charge.
It can polarise the electron cloud of the oxide ion and thus there is a partial sharing of
electrons. This gives rise to a partial covalent character to the ionic bond of Al2O3.

2. Aluminium salts

2.1 a. Al2O3(s) + 2KOH(aq) + 3H2O(l) 2KAl(OH)4(aq) or

Al2O3(s) + 2OH−(aq) + 3H2O(l) 2[Al(OH)4]−(aq)

b. Al2O3(s) + 6HCl(aq) 2AlCl3(aq) + 3H2O(l) or

Al2O3(s) + 6H+(aq) 2Al3+(aq) + 3H2O(l)

2.2 Cl Cl Cl

Al Al

Cl Cl Cl

dimer

2.3 The Al3+ ion in the solution exists as hexaaquaaluminium ion, [Al(H2O)6]3+.
Al3+ ion has a high charge density. The Al3+ ion polarises the O − H bond of the
coordinated water molecules. This weakens the O − H bond. The free water molecule
acts as base, accepting the H+ from the complex ion to form hydroxonium ions. The
formation of this ion gives the acidic character to the solution.

[Al(H2O)6]3+(aq) + H2O(l) [Al(H2O)5(OH)]2+(aq) + H3O+(aq)

2.4 A white precipitate is formed which then dissolved in excess sodium hydroxide to
form a colourless solution.

Al3+(aq) + 3OH−(aq) Al(OH)3(s)

Al(OH)3(s) + OH−(aq) [Al(OH)4]−(aq)

© 2004 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 3 of 4

3. Uses

3.1 Aluminium has a low density (light) and resists corrosion.

3.2 B

3.3 D

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