Question

What happens when aluminum reacts with hydrochloric acid?

Answer 1

Reaction of metal with acid

• When a metal reacts with an acid, a salt is formed along with the liberation of hydrogen gas.
• When aluminum $\left(\mathrm{Al}\right)$ reacts with hydrochloric acid $\left(\mathrm{HCl}\right)$, aluminum chloride $\left({\mathrm{AlCl}}_3\right)$ is formed along with colorless hydrogen gas $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\right)$.
• This reaction is irreversible in nature.

Chemical equation

• The chemical equation is depicted below.
• $2\mathrm{Al}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+6\mathrm{HCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to 2{\mathrm{AlCl}}_3\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+3{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$