Question

What happens when a base reacts with a metal?

Answer 1

Characteristics of a base:

• Bases are bitter in taste and have a slippery texture.
• When a base reacts with an acid, a salt is formed.
• A base turns the color of a red litmus paper into blue color.

Reaction of a base with a metal:

• When a base reacts with a metal, it involves the formation of salt along with the liberation of hydrogen gas.
• The word equation can be written as follows:

$\mathrm{Metal}+\mathrm{Base}\to \mathrm{Salt}+\mathrm{Hydrogen}\uparrow$

Example:

• When sodium hydroxide $\left(\mathrm{NaOH}\right)$ reacts with zinc metal $\left(\mathrm{Zn}\right)$, sodium zincate is formed along with the liberation of hydrogen gas $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\right)$.

$\mathrm{Zn}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+2\mathrm{NaOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{ZnO}}_2\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$