Amphoteric Hydroxides: Al3+ and Fe3+

Amphoteric hydroxide compounds (M(OH)x) will dissolve in both acid and excess base solutions

Chemicals and Equipment Needed

• d-H2O • 2-400 mL beakers – Q2
• Al(NO3)3 • 9 H2O – E1 • 6-300 mL tall beakers – Q2
• Fe(NO3)3 • 9 H2O – F2 • 6-25 mL graduated cylinders – Q3
• 6 M NaOH – S1 • 2 Black backgrounds – A1
• 6 M HNO3 – K3 • 2 White backgrounds – A1
• 6 glass rods – U1
• 6 stoppers – U3
• 8 petri dish lids – P3
Preparation
There is a lot to this. Read the whole prep before starting
• Al3+ beaker:
o In 400 mL beaker, add 11.25 g Al(NO3)3 • 9 H2O and enough d-H2O to give ~300 mL solution.
o Lid and label Al3+
• Fe3+ beaker:
o In 400 mL beaker, add 12.12 g Fe(NO3)3 • 9 H2O and enough d-H2O to give ~300 mL solution.
o Stir on a stirplate if needed
o Lid and label Fe3+
• NaOH cylinders:
o Measure 15 mL of 6 M NaOH into 4 cylinders, stopper (optional parafilm), and label the bases.
• HNO3 cylinders:
o Measure 17 mL of 6 M HNO3 into 2 cylinders, stopper, (optional parafilm), and label the bases.
• Reaction beakers (empty) lid and label as follows:
o 3-300 mL beakers – Al3+ control, Al3+ Add NaOH, Al3+ Add HNO3
o 3-300 mL beakers – Fe3+ control, Fe3+ Add NaOH, Fe3+ Add HNO3
• See diagram for delivery set-up
- Black Backgrounds Fe3+ - White Backgrounds
Al3+

Add NaOH Add HNO3 control Add NaOH Add HNO3 control

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NaOH HNO3 NaOH HNO3

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solution solution
NaOH Al3+ NaOH Fe3+

Amphoteric Hydroxides Revised Fall 2019

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Presentation
• Add NaOH to the 400 mL Al3+ and Fe3+ beakers and stir
o Result: precipitates of Al(OH)3 and Fe(OH)3
• Divide the Al(OH)3 solution between the three Al3+ beakers, and the Fe(OH)3 solution between the three
Fe3+ beakers
• Add HNO3 to the appropriate beakers.
o Result: all three hydroxides dissolve

Al(OH)3 (s) + 3 H+ (aq) → Al3+ (aq) + 3 H2O (ℓ)

Fe(OH)3 (s) + 3 H+ (aq) → Fe3+ (aq) + 3 H2O (ℓ)

• Add NaOH to the appropriate beakers

o Result: Al(OH)3 will dissolve, but Fe(OH)3 does not

Al(OH)3 (s) + OH- (aq) → Al(OH)4- (aq)

Fe(OH)3 (s) + OH- (aq) → No Reaction

• Thus we see that Al(OH)3 is an amphoteric hydroxide, but Fe(OH)3 is not amphoteric

Clean-Up
• Any clear solutions can go down the sink with plenty of water. Any with suspended precipitate should
go into white waste, as well as one rinse of the container.

Amphoteric Hydroxides
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 Presentation Instructions
• Add NaOH to the Al3+ and Fe3+ beakers and stir
o Result: precipitates of Al(OH)3 and Fe(OH)3
• Divide the Al(OH)3 solution between the three Al3+ beakers, and the
Fe(OH)3 solution between the three Fe3+ beakers
• Add HNO3 to the appropriate beakers.
o Result: all three hydroxides dissolve

Al(OH)3 (s) + 3 H+ (aq) → Al3+ (aq) + 3 H2O (ℓ)

Fe(OH)3 (s) + 3 H+ (aq) → Fe3+ (aq) + 3 H2O (ℓ)

• Add NaOH to the appropriate beakers

o Result: Al(OH)3 will dissolve, but Fe(OH)3 does not

Al(OH)3 (s) + OH- (aq) → Al(OH)4- (aq)

Fe(OH)3 (s) + OH- (aq) → No Reaction

• Thus we see that Al(OH)3 is an amphoteric hydroxide, but Fe(OH)3 is

not amphoteric
- Black Backgrounds Fe3+ - White Backgrounds
Al3+

Add NaOH Add HNO3 control Add NaOH Add HNO3 control

100 100 100 100

90 90 90 90

80 80 80 80
70 70 70 70

60 60 60 60
50 50 50 50

40 40 40 40
30 30 30 30

20 20 20 20

10 10 10 10

NaOH HNO3 NaOH HNO3

100 100

90 90

80 80
70 70

60 60
50 50

40 40
30 30

20 20

10 10

solution solution
NaOH Al3+ NaOH Fe3+

Amphoteric Hydroxides Revised Fall 2019

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