Chemistry · Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Question 25

When a piece of aluminium is placed in cold, dilute hydrochloric acid, no reaction is observed initially. What is the reason for this?

1. AAluminium contains small amounts of a more reactive metal that reacts with the acid instead.
2. BAluminium is above hydrogen in the reactivity series.
3. CAluminium is amphoteric and will only react with bases.
4. DAluminium is coated with an oxide layer that prevents the acid getting to the metal.

As printed in the paper