Chapter 7: Metallurgy | Selina Solutions Concise Chemistry Class 10 ...
Bauxite is reacted with a conc. solution of NaOH under pressure for 2 hrs as a first step in obtaining Al 2 O 3. The impurities present in bauxite mainly Fe 2 O 3 and SiO 2 remain unaffected with conc. NaOH as impurities are not amphoteric. Bauxite, being amphoteric reacts with the base forming sodium salt [sodium aluminate] and water.