Question

What would you observe on adding dilute hydrochloric acid to zinc metal in a test tube?

Answer 1

• The reaction of dilute hydrochloric acid and zinc metal:
• Dilute Hydrochloric acid $\left(\mathrm{HCl}\right)$ on reaction with Zinc $\left(\mathrm{Zn}\right)$ produces Zinc chloride $\left({\mathrm{ZnCl}}_2\right)$ and Hydrogen gas $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\right)$.
• $\mathrm{Zn}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+2\mathrm{HCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{ZnCl}}_2\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$
• When a match stick is bought near the mouth of the test tube the hydrogen gas will burn with a pop sound.
• Therefore, when dilute hydrochloric acid is added to a test tube containing granulated zinc we can see that a colorless and odorless gas evolves with bubbles.