Question

Can you store lemon pickle in an aluminium utensil? Explain.

Answer 1

Hint: Pickles are a traditional Indian way used to preserve vegetables for a long time. These are made with a high content of acid using salts or vinegar.

Complete Step By Step Answer:

Pickles are a form of traditional Indian food mainly made with an intent to preserve vegetables for longer durations of time. Pickles contain an excess amount of salt, sometimes vinegar and oil. These create an extremely acidic environment which is not a suitable environment for any bacteria or fungus to grow on.

Aluminium is a metal from group 13. The acids in the pickle would react with aluminium forming hydrogen gas in excess. This will deteriorate the quality and taste of the pickle and would also harm the human body if consumed. Further, this would also create holes in the vessel.

 $\text{2A}{\text{l}}_{\text{(s)}}\text{ + 6HC}{\text{l}}_{\text{(aq)}}{\text{ 2Al}}_{\text{(aq)}}^{\text{+3}}{\text{ + 6Cl}}_{\text{(aq)}}^{\text{-}}\text{ + 3}{\text{H}}_{\text{2(g)}}$ .

Hence, it is not advised to store lemon pickle in an aluminium utensil.

Additional Information:

Atomic number of aluminium is 13 and its electronic configuration is  $\text{1}{\text{s}}^2\text{ 2}{\text{s}}^2\text{ 2}{\text{p}}^6\text{ 3}{\text{s}}^2\text{ 3}{\text{p}}^1$ . It often gives up the one electron in 3p or one from 3p and one from 3s and forms +1 or +2 oxidation state. It is known to form a protective layer of its own oxide on the surface i.e.  $\text{A}{\text{l}}_2{\text{O}}_3$  which protects it from further oxidation in a moisture containing environment. Even though aluminium is highly reactive in nature. Aluminium is extremely useful when it comes to the packaging industry and manufacturing of other wrapping materials.

Note: In old times, pickles were also made with an intent to keep having the taste of annual and perishable fruits like mango. By preserving mango in pickles, the taste could be enjoyed all year long.