Aluminium hydroxide

By Dawood Faisal
(PHR120182014)
Aluminium hydroxide
Aluminium hydroxide, Al(OH)₃, is found in nature as the
mineral gibbsite and its three much rarer polymorphs are:
bayerite, doyleite and nordstrandite. Aluminium hydroxide
exist in many forms, all based on the common combination of
one aluminium atom and three hydroxide molecules into
different crystalline arrangements that determine the
appearance and properties of the compound.
Gibbsite is the most chemically stable form of aluminium
hydroxide.
Chemistry
• Amphoteric
• It dissolves in acid, forming
[Al(H2O)6]+3(hexaaquaaluminium(3+)) or its
hydrolysis products.
• It also dissolves in strong alkali, forming
Al(OH)4- (tetrahydroxidoaluminate).
Occurance
In nature, the element aluminum combines with
other elements to form compounds. Aluminum
hydroxide is a compound which is closely related to
aluminum oxide and aluminum oxide hydroxide, the
primary difference between the three being the loss
of water. All three compounds are found in bauxite,
the ore used for creating pure aluminum. While
pure aluminum is a metal, aluminum hydroxide is a
crystal.
Bauxite, an aluminium ore, is the world's main source of
aluminium. It consists mostly of the minerals gibbsite
(Al(OH)3),  bauxite mostly present near the village of
Les Baux in Provence, southern France.
 Physical properties
It’s a odorless white powder.
Formula: Al(OH)3
Molar mass: 78.0036 g/mol
Density: 2.42 g/cm³
Melting point: 300 °C
Soluble in: Acid, Sulfuric acid, Alkali, Hydrochloric acid
(In Water….0.0001g/100ml)  Aluminium hydroxide is
amphoteric in nature, i.e, it has both basic and acidic nature.
Chemical properties
Decomposition Reaction
Al(OH)3 Al2O3 + H2O
When it is heated to redness, It decomposes into water
and aluminium oxide.
Reaction with Acids
Al(OH)3 + 3HCl AlCl3 + 3H2O
The hydroxide reacts with acids readily that is
hydrochloric acid forming the water and the aliminium
salts.
Preparation
Hot solution of potash alum is added slowly to a
hot solution of sodium carbonate.
The aluminium hydroxide is precipitated and then
washed thoroughly with hot water until it is free
of sulfate ions.

3NaCO3+2KAl(SO4)2+3H2O 3Na2SO4 +
K2SO4 + 2 Al(OH)3 + 2CO2
Aluminium hydroxide used commercially is
manufactured by the Bayer process which involves
dissolving bauxite in sodium hydroxide at temperatures
up to 270 °C (518 °F). The waste solid, bauxite tailings,
is removed and aluminium hydroxide is precipitated
from the remaining solution of sodium aluminate.

2Al+2NaOH+2H2O−>2NaAlO2+3H2 2H2O+NaAlO2(aq)
−>Al(OH)3(s)+NaOH(aq)
Uses
Aluminium hydroxide is used as an Antacid.  Aluminium
hydroxide is preferred over other alternatives such as
sodium bicarbonate because Al(OH)3, being insoluble,
does not increase the pH of stomach above 7 and hence,
does not trigger secretion of excess acid by the stomach. It
reacts with excess acid in the stomach, reducing the acidity
of the stomach content, which may relieve the symptoms
of heartburn or dyspepsia.
Such products can cause constipation, because the
aluminum ions inhibit the contractions of smooth muscle
cells in the gastrointestinal tract, slowing peristalsis and
lengthening the time needed for stool to pass through the
colon. Some such products (such as Maalox) are formulated
to minimize such effects through the inclusion of equal
concentrations of magnesium hydroxide or magnesium
carbonate, which have counterbalancing laxative effects.
It acts as astringent and antiseptic because of aluminium
ions formed by its solution in the hydrochloric acid of the
stomach, so also used as protective in treating peptic ulcer.
 Precipitated Aluminium hydroxide is included as an
adjuvant in some vaccines (e.g. anthrax vaccine). Since it
absorbs protein well, it also functions to stabilize vaccines
by preventing the proteins in the vaccine from
precipitating or sticking to the walls of the container
during storage.
Brand names as antacids
Alu-Cap, Aludrox, Gaviscon or Pepsamar.

Brands for aluminium hydroxide adjuvant 

Alhydrogel, made by Brenntag Biosector