Question

Metals generally react with dilute acids to produce hydrogen gas.
Which one of the following metals does not react with dilute
hydrochloric acid?
(a) magnesium (c) iron
(b) aluminium (d) copper


NCERT Class VIII
Science - Exemplar Problems

Chapter 4. Materials: Metals and Non-Metals

Answer 1

Copper cannot react with dilute hydrochloric acid. (Option d)

• A metal can only react with the dilute hydrochloric acid when the metal is able to chemically replace the hydrogen from the hydrochloric acid.

• For replacing the hydrogen from the hydrochloric acid,the metal should be positioned before the hydrogen in the activity series.

• But,copper is positioned after the hydrogen in the reactivity series and that's why copper is unable to replace hydrogen from the dilute hydrochloric acid.

• For this same reason,the copper is also unable to react with the dilute hydrochloric acid.