Acids & Metals
Year 9 🧪 Acids, Bases & Salts Write equations for acid + metal reactions; link to reactivity series.
⚗️ Acid + Metal Reactions
Metals above hydrogen in the reactivity series react with dilute acids to produce a salt and hydrogen gas.
General Equation
$$\text{metal} + \text{dilute acid} \rightarrow \text{salt} + \text{hydrogen}$$Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl₂ + H₂
Mg + H₂SO₄ → MgSO₄ + H₂
Fe + 2HCl → FeCl₂ + H₂
Mg + H₂SO₄ → MgSO₄ + H₂
Fe + 2HCl → FeCl₂ + H₂
🔬 Observations & Test
Observations: Metal dissolves; H₂ bubbles form; solution warms up (exothermic); solution may become coloured.
Test for H₂: lit splint at mouth of test tube → squeaky pop.
⚖️ Metals Below Hydrogen
Metals below hydrogen (copper, silver, gold) do NOT react with dilute acids — they are too unreactive.
Cu + H₂SO₄(dilute) → No reaction. Copper cannot displace hydrogen from acid.
Ready to test yourself? Click the Quiz tab above to practise questions on this topic!
Interactive Demonstration — Acids & Metals
Watch hydrogen gas form when metals react with acid.
⚗️ Acid-Metal Reaction Predictor
Calculate the volume of H₂ produced and the salt formed.