Why does zinc increase in weight after being placed in NaOH?

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Why does zinc increase in weight after being placed in NaOH?

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Answer 1 · 2017-06-11T19:35:49

Of course the mass of zinc does not increase........

Explanation:

However, zinc, as an active metal, can be OXIDIZED in basic solution as well as acidic solution........to give the $zincate salt$ $"zincate salt"$ , $N a_{2} [Z n {(O H)}_{4}]$ $Na_2[Zn(OH)_4]$

$Oxidation:$ $"Oxidation:"$

$Z n (s) + 4 H O^{-} \to Z n {(O H)}_{4}^{2 -} + 2 e^{-}$ $Zn(s) +4HO^(-) rarr Zn(OH)_4^(2-)+2e^(-)$ $(i)$ $(i)$

$Reduction:$ $"Reduction:"$

$H_{2} O (l) + e^{-} \to \frac{1}{2} H_{2} (g) + H O^{-}$ $H_2O(l) +e^(-) rarr 1/2H_2(g) + HO^-$ $(i i)$ $(ii)$

And we take $(i) + 2 \times (i i)$ $(i)+2xx(ii)$ :

$Z n (s) + 2 H_{2} O (l) + 2 H O^{-} \to Z n {(O H)}_{4}^{2 -} + H_{2} (g) ↑ ⏐ ⏐$ $Zn(s)+2H_2O(l) +2HO^(-) rarr Zn(OH)_4^(2-)+ H_2(g)uarr$

You could presumably isolate the zincate ion as its sodium salt, $N a_{2} [Z n {(O H)}_{4}]$ $Na_2[Zn(OH)_4]$ , which complex has clearly a greater mass than the metal equivalent.

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Why does zinc increase in weight after being placed in NaOH?

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