[WhiteSkyRising]

Just a quick question:

Al(OH)₃ + 3HNO₃ ---> Al + 3NO₃ + 3H₂O

Why doesn't the NO₃ and Al don't combine to form Al(NO₃)₃ ? Is it because the NO₃ is soluble? I'm just hit by a brain block I guess ... thanks!

[Borek]

Just a quick question:

Al(OH)₃ + 3HNO₃ ---> Al + 3NO₃ + 3H₂O

Why doesn't the NO₃ and Al don't combine to form Al(NO₃)₃ ?

Your product is Al(NO₃)₃(aq) and not Al(NO₃)₃(s). Salt is completely dissociated. And your equation is wrong (you should add charges to ions, or write state).

[Arkcon]

Just a quick question:

Al(OH)₃ + 3HNO₃ ---> Al + 3NO₃ + 3H₂O

This reaction is wrong.  Balanced perhaps, by atoms, but the products don't exist, or co-exist with each other, or with residual reactants.

Why doesn't the NO₃ and Al don't combine to form Al(NO₃)₃ ? Is it because the NO₃ is soluble? I'm just hit by a brain block I guess ... thanks!

Not brain block, your instincts are correct, you just got a little lost in the balancing. 

Now, back in the day, they used to say things like "aluminum hydroxide is soluble in nitric acid", when they should have said, "aluminum hydroxide reacts with nitric acid to form soluble products", could that old fashioned explanation have been what confused you?