Question

Reaction of acids with metals

Answer 1

What is an Acid?

What's chemistry without combining a bunch of stuff together, right? One of the most exciting reactions in chemistry involves acids, which are substances with a pH of less than 7. Contrast this with bases, which have a pH greater than 7.

Buckle your seatbelt, because we are going to conduct reactions that cause fizzling, bubbling, and heating. Let's get started with the following reactions:

Acids and metalsAcids and carbonatesAcids and hydroxides

Acids and Metals

The first group of reactions we will discuss is when a metal and an acid are combined. The general reaction results in a salt and hydrogen gas. Not all metals react this way, but many do.

For each type of reaction, the balanced equation, which means the number of atoms on the reactant side (left side of the arrow) equals the number of atoms on the product side (right side of the arrow), will be shown. The full ionic equation, which shows the ions (or charged atoms) in an aqueous solution (when a material is dissolved in water) will also be shown.

Hydrochloric Acid and Magnesium

The reaction of magnesium with hydrochloric acid produces magnesium chloride (a salt) and hydrogen gas.

The balanced equation is as follows:

Mg (s) + 2HCl (aq) -> MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)

You'll notice letters in parenthesis next to the element's symbols. This just shows you the state the element is in:

(s) means solid(l) means liquid(aq) means aqueous(g) means gas

When this reaction takes place, the hydrogen gas causes bubbles and the reaction creates heat. This reaction is known as a single displacement reaction, because the magnesium displaces (and replaces) another element (hydrogen).

The reaction of a metal and acid produces gas bubbles

Now let's check out the ionic equation. Sometimes a net ionic equation is used, and this means that the ions that are the same on both sides will be crossed off. Here, we will just present the entire equation:

Mg (s) + 2H+ (aq) + 2Cl- (aq) -> Mg+2 (aq) + 2Cl- (aq) + H2 (g)

Sulfuric Acid and Iron

For our second example, let's see what happens when iron is mixed with sulfuric acid. Here iron and sulfuric acid result in iron sulfate (a salt) and hydrogen gas. Take a look at the balanced equation:

Fe (s) + H2 SO4 (aq) -> Fe SO4 (aq) + H2 (g)

Again, bubbles (from the hydrogen gas) are formed and the reaction releases heat. Just like the first reaction, this is a single displacement reaction (iron displaces hydrogen).

And the ionic equation is:

Fe (s) + 2H+ (aq) + SO4-2 (aq) -> Fe+2 (aq) + SO4-2 (aq) + H2 (g)

Acids and Carbonates

Let's move on to acids andcarbonates. A carbonate is negatively charged and contains a carbon bonded to three oxygen atoms. The general reaction results in a salt, carbon dioxide gas, and water.

The reactions between carbonates and acids are called neutralization reactionsbecause the acid is neutralized. In other words, the acid and base (carbonate) are neutralized, or their pH gets close to 7.

If you've ever taken Tums to deal with stomach acid, you have experienced this reaction firsthand. Tums contains carbonate, which neutralizes the acid in your stomach. And if you burp, guess why? Yep, the reaction creates gas and this causes you to burp.

Hydrochloric Acid and Magnesium Carbonate

When magnesium carbonate reacts with hydrochloric acid it produces magnesium chloride (salt), water and carbon dioxide. The balanced equation is:

MgCO3 (s) + 2HCl (aq) -> MgCl2 (aq) + H2 O (l) + CO2 (g)

Like the other reactions, bubbles are produced (this time due to the carbon dioxide) and heat is released.

The ionic equation is:

MgCO3 (s) + 2H+ (aq) + 2Cl- (aq) -> Mg+2(aq) + 2Cl- (aq) + H2 O (l) + CO2 (g)

Answer 2

Answer:

Acid reacts with metals to form salt and hydrogen gas.

Explanation:

metal + acid = salt + H2

ex. Zn + 2HCl = ZnCl2 + H2