Question

Can copper be used to prepare hydrogen by reaction with dilute acids . Why ?

Answer 1

Yes it can. Due to its BASIC nature, it reacts with acids and displaces H2 gas ( if it was Zinc hydroxide which is a complete base, a neutralization would have occurred but since it is only Zinc, it just displaces the hydrogen) . Example : Zn+2HCl --> ZnCl2 + H2