Question

What happens when dilute sulfuric acid is poured on zinc granules?

Answer 1

Reaction of dilute sulfuric acid with zinc granules

• When dilute sulfuric acid $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$ is poured on zinc $\left(\mathrm{Zn}\right)$ granules, the zinc displaces hydrogen from the acid, forming zinc sulfate $\left({\mathrm{ZnSO}}_4\right)$ and hydrogen $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\right)$ gas.
• Zinc displaces hydrogen during the reaction because it is more reactive than hydrogen.
• Hydrogen is a flammable gas that produces a popping sound when burned.

Balanced chemical reaction

• The reaction is as follows:

$\underset{\left(\mathrm{Zinc}\right)}{\mathrm{Zn}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{Sulfuric}\mathrm{acid}\right)}{{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}\to \underset{\left(\mathrm{Zinc}\mathrm{sulfate}\right)}{{\mathrm{ZnSO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{Hydrogen}\right)}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$