Reaction of a non-metal with alkali to produce hydrogen gas [closed]








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I want to ask that is there any non-metal which reacts with an alkali (NOT alkali metal) to produce hydrogen gas?




By "non-metal", are you asking about elements that are not metals (that includes metalloids and non-metals) or non-metals by definition? Anyways, I'll stick to the latter. The non-metals include carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen, sulfur, selenium, the halogens (except astatine) and the noble gases.


In short, the answer is: "non-metals that give reaction do not give hydrogen as product". We can find out by listing them:


1. Carbon: No reaction
2. Nitrogen: No reaction
3. Phosphorus: [Give phosphine](https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/68013/reaction-of-white-phosphorus-with-aqueous-sodium-hydroxide/68017)
4. Oxygen: No reaction
5. Sulfur: [Depending on reaction conditions, it can various polysulfide species along with sodium thiosulfate and water](https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/50990/reaction-between-sulfur-and-sodium-hydroxide)
6. Selenium: Might give similar reactions to sulfur (couldn't find any reference)
7. All halogens reacts with sodium hydroxide


	* Fluorine react to give oxygen(II) fluoride and fluoride ion ([webelemets](https://www.webelements.com/fluorine/chemistry.html))
	$$\ce{2F2(g) + 2OH-(aq) → OF2(g) + 2F-(aq) + H2O(l)}$$
	* Chlorine reacts with cold hydroxide to give chloride and oxychloride but with hot hydroxide it gives chlorate


$$\ce{2OH-(cold) + Cl2 -> Cl- + OCl- + H2O}$$
$$\ce{6OH-(hot) + Cl2 -> Cl- + ClO3- + H2O}$$


* + Bromine and iodine esentially give the same reactions forming bromate(V) and iodate(V) respectively ([chemguide](https://www.chemguide.co.uk/inorganic/group7/otherreactions.html))


8. No noble gas reacts with sodium hydroxide


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Since you didn't say "aqueous", boron fused with sodium hydroxide produces hydrogen and sodium borate.


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