Dive into the 2026 NY Wastewater Exam – Flush Away the Competition with Confidence!

When aluminum sulfate mixes with water, it undergoes a process known as hydrolysis. This process is characterized by the formation of aluminum hydroxide, along with the release of sulfuric acid into the solution. The hydrolysis of aluminum sulfate produces a gelatinous precipitate of aluminum hydroxide, which is utilized in various applications, particularly in water treatment processes for removing impurities and clarifying water.

The slippery feel during this process might stem from the interaction of aluminum hydroxide with water, creating a somewhat viscous and slippery consistency. This characteristic is important in certain applications where the changes in viscosity can influence the behavior of the solution.

The other choices do not accurately represent the primary outcome of mixing aluminum sulfate with water. A thick paste might suggest a different type of mixture, and a gas release is not a typical result of this reaction. Lastly, while a precipitate is formed, it is not solid in the way some might envision, as the aluminum hydroxide is gelatinous rather than hard.