Why does aluminium not react with water?

Answer 1

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As soon as aluminium is exposed to the air, it reacts with the air to produce a layer aluminium oxide, which is unreactive. This is what happens with soft drink cans. If you rub off the aluminium oxide from a can, you will see pure aluminium.

Answer 2

If you had PURE aluminum, it would react to water. But most metalic aluminum has a thin skin where it has already reacted to the oxygen in the air. This protective layer keeps the underlying aluminum from reacting to water.

Answer 3

Aluminium has a unique property in that it forms an oxide layer instantly as soon as it is in contact with air. This layer prevents water from reaching the bare metal. It is also why it is very difficult to solder aluminium.

Answer 4

Aluminum metal rapidly develops a thin layer of aluminum oxide of a few millimeters that prevents the metal from reacting with water.

Answer 5

Aluminium does react with water (hot water anyway...) but due to Al's high reactivity, it reacts almost immediately with oxygen to form aluminium oxide. Aluminium oxide is extremely UNreactive.
If you have aluminium powder, wash it in sulphuric acid, drain the acid off, then chuck the Al into some copper sulphate for a spectacular (and very exothermic) displacement reaction..
The more concentrated the copper solution, the more vigorous and hotter will be the reaction...