How metal react with acid
How metal react with acid
Acids react with most metals and a salt is produced. But unlike the reaction between acids and bases we don't get any water. Instead we get hydrogen gas.
This is the general word equation for the reaction:
metal + acid → salt + hydrogen
This type of chemical reaction is known as a single displacement reaction, where an element displaces another in a compound. The hydrogen in acids is displaced by the metals to produce hydrogen gas.
The two common acids are sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and hydrochloric acid (HCl). The most active metals are magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and lead (Pb). The most inactive metals are copper (Cu), silver (Ag) and gold (Au).
Active metals can displace hydrogen ions from acids, while inactive metals cannot. The salt produced when an acid reacts with a metal differs, in that the type of salt produced depends on the type of acid used for the reaction. Sulfuric acid produces sulfate salts, while hydrochloric acid produces chloride salts.
Here are some examples of acid metal chemical reactions:
- Magnesium + hydrochloric acid = magnesium chloride + hydrogen gas (Mg + 2HCl = MgCl2 + H2)
- Magnesium + sulphuric acid = magnesium sulphate + hydrogen (Mg + H2SO4 = MgSO4 + H2)
- Iron + sulfuric acid = iron sulfate + hydrogen (Fe + H2SO4 = FeSO4 + H2)
Acids react with most metals and a salt is produced. But unlike the reaction between acids and bases we don't get any water. Instead we get hydrogen gas.
This is the general word equation for the reaction:
metal + acid → salt + hydrogen
This type of chemical reaction is known as a single displacement reaction, where an element displaces another in a compound. The hydrogen in acids is displaced by the metals to produce hydrogen gas.
The two common acids are sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and hydrochloric acid (HCl). The most active metals are magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and lead (Pb). The most inactive metals are copper (Cu), silver (Ag) and gold (Au).
Active metals can displace hydrogen ions from acids, while inactive metals cannot. The salt produced when an acid reacts with a metal differs, in that the type of salt produced depends on the type of acid used for the reaction. Sulfuric acid produces sulfate salts, while hydrochloric acid produces chloride salts.
Here are some examples of acid metal chemical reactions:
- Magnesium + hydrochloric acid = magnesium chloride + hydrogen gas (Mg + 2HCl = MgCl2 + H2)
- Magnesium + sulphuric acid = magnesium sulphate + hydrogen (Mg + H2SO4 = MgSO4 + H2)
- Iron + sulfuric acid = iron sulfate + hydrogen (Fe + H2SO4 = FeSO4 + H2)
