Question

Write word equations and then balanced equations for the reaction taking place when (c) Dilute sulfuric acid reacts with aluminum powder.

Answer 1

Reaction of metal with acid:

• When a metal reacts with the acid, it produces a metallic salt and hydrogen gas is liberated.
• The general chemical reaction can be depicted as:

$\mathrm{Metal}+\mathrm{Acid}\to \mathrm{Metallic}\mathrm{salt}+\mathrm{Hydrogen}$

Reaction of Dilute sulfuric acid with aluminum:

• When aluminum$\left(\mathrm{Al}\right)$ metal reacts with dilute sulfuric acid$\left({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$, it produces Aluminum sulfate$\left({\mathrm{Al}}_2{\left({\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)}_3\right)$ and hydrogen gas$\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\right)$ is liberated.
• The word equation can be depicted as:

$\mathrm{Aluminum}+\mathrm{dil}.\mathrm{Sulfuric}\mathrm{acid}\to \mathrm{Aluminum}\mathrm{sulfate}+\mathrm{Hydrogen}$

• The chemical reaction can be depicted as:

$2\mathrm{Al}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+3{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{Al}}_2{\left({\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)}_3\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+3{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$