Question

Name the following:
A metal which reacts with dilute nitric acid to liberate hydrogen gas.

Answer 1

• As nitric acid $\left({\mathrm{HNO}}_3\right)$ is a strong oxidizing agent, when hydrogen gas $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\right)$ is generated in a reaction between a metal and dilute nitric acid, the nitric acid $\left({\mathrm{HNO}}_3\right)$ oxidizes the hydrogen to water.
• Magnesium and manganese reacts with highly dilute ${\mathrm{HNO}}_3$ (1%) at low temperature to liberate ${\mathrm{H}}_2$.
  $\mathrm{Mg}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{HNO}}_3\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to \mathrm{Mg}{\left({\mathrm{NO}}_3\right)}_2\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\uparrow$
• Therefore, Magnesium and manganese are the two metals that react with nitric acid to produce hydrogen gas.