Investigating the Reaction Between Dilute Acid and Metals
Some metals react with dilute acids to produce a salt and hydrogen gas. The general equation is as follows:
metal + acid → salt + hydrogen
The name of the salt can be deduced from the name of the metal and the name of the acid. For example,
when zinc reacts with nitric acid, the name of the salt is zinc nitrate. Or for example:
magnesium + sulfuric acid → magnesium sulfate + hydrogen
Observations of the reactions of metals with acids allow you to put the metals into a reactivity series. lf one
metal reacts vigorously with a dilute acid, producing lots of bubbles of hydrogen in an exothermic reaction,
whilst another metal reacts more slowly with the same acid, the first metal is more reactive.
Aim:
Investigate the reactions of metals with dilute hydrochloric and sulfuric acids.
Materials required:
• 5 test tubes
• 1 100cm3 beaker
• Magnesium metal
• Copper metal
• Aluminum metal
• Zinc metal
• Iron metal
• 0.5mol/dm3 hydrochloric acid
• Test tube rack
Precautions:
➢ Wear eye protection.
➢ The acid used in this experiment is an irritant. If you get any dilute acid on your skin, rinse the affected
area with water.
➢ Magnesium metal is flammable and should be kept away from sources of ignition.
➢ Do not hold the test tubes during the reactions because some of the reactions are highly exothermic
and will therefore get very hot. Test tubes should be placed in a suitable rack before adding the metals.
Procedure:
1. Take one of each of the 5 metals (magnesium, copper, aluminum, zinc, and iron) and clean them with
sandpaper.
2. Take 5 test tubes and set them up in a test tube rack in your group area.
3. Pour approximately 100cm3 of 0.5 mol/dm hydrochloric acid into a 100 cm3 beaker and bring it back to
your group area.
4. Carefully pour a roughly equal amount of acid into each test tube. Then add a different piece of metal
to each test tube and observe the result.
5. After you finish testing, remove the metal before dumping any solutions down the sink, as metals will
clog the drain.
Optional: For a very reactive metal, you can cover the top of the test tube with your thumb to prevent gas
from escaping. After some gas has built up, carefully hold a flame near the opening of the test tube as you
remove your thumb. You should hear a “squeaky pop” as the hydrogen gas burns.
Observations:
Complete the table with your observations.
Metal Observations with hydrochloric acid Predicted Reaction
Magnesium
Copper
Aluminum
Zinc
Iron
Results and Conclusion:
1. Write a word equation for the reaction of magnesium with hydrochloric acid.
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2. Write a balanced symbol equation including state symbols for the reaction of zinc with hydrochloric
acid.
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3. Arrange the 5 metals into a reactivity series based on your observations, with the most reactive metal
at the top.
1. …………………………………………………….
2. .……………………………………………………
3. …………………………………………………….
4. …………………………………………………….
5. …………………………………………………….
4. Why does the reaction between aluminum and dilute acid start off slowly but then gets more
vigorous?
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Exam style questions:
1. This question is about using observations to place metals into a reactivity series.
A student placed small pieces of four different metals into dilute hydrochloric acid. They then placed the same
four metals into water and made observations. The results are shown below.
Metal Observations with dilute hydrochloric acid Observations with water
A Large bubbles produced quickly Tiny bubbles formed over several minutes
B Small bubbles formed quickly No visible reaction
C Vigorous bubbles and steam Steady small bubbles
D No visible reaction No visible reaction
a) Arrange the metals into a reactivity series, with the most reactive metal at the top.
1. ………..
2. ………..
3. ………..
4. ………..
b) The four metals used were tin, calcium, silver, and zinc. Write the letter from the above table to
identify each metal.
Tin
Calcium
Silver
Zinc
c) Some metals react with dilute acids to produce a gas.
a. State the name of the gas produced in the reaction between metal A and hydrochloric acid.
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b. Describe a test for this gas.
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d) State three factors that should be kept the same in this investigation in order to produce valid results.
1. _______________________________________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________________________________
2. Acids can be neutralized by several different substances. A salt is produced in each reaction.
a. Complete the table to show the correct products made when an acid reacts with different
substances. You will need to write one of these answers twice.
Possible products: salt + water
salt + hydrogen gas
salt + water + carbon dioxide
Reaction between Products made
Acid + metal
Acid + metal oxide
Acid + metal hydroxide
Acid + metal carbonate
b. Write a word equation for the reaction between nitric acid and potassium carbonate.
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c. Write a balanced symbol equation to show the reaction between nitric acid (HNO 3) and lithium
hydroxide (LiOH).
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d. Write a balanced symbol equation to show the reaction between hydrochloric acid and
magnesium oxide (MgO).
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Further application:
1. Some metals react with dilute acids to produce a salt and a gas. These reactions are exothermic.
Describe how you would determine a reactivity series for five metals by investigating the energy
changes that occur when they are added to a dilute acid. Include in your answer: the independent
variable, dependent variable and control variables, and how you would interpret the results.
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2. In a displacement reaction, a more reactive element displaces a less reactive element from a
compound. The reactivity of five metals was investigated by adding a small piece of each metal to
solutions of the chloride salts of the other metals, and recording whether or not a displacement
reaction took place. The results are shown in the table.
Metal chloride solutions
Metals J chloride K chloride L chloride M chloride N chloride
Metal J No Yes No Yes
Metal K Yes Yes No Yes
Metal L No No No No
Metal M Yes Yes Yes Yes
Metal N No No Yes No
a. Deduce the order of reactivity of metals J, K, L, M, and N. Put the most reactive metal at the top.
1. ………………..
2. …………………
3. …………………
4. …………………
5. …………………
b. Explain why J was not added to a solution of J chloride.
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c. Why would this method not be suitable to investigate the reactivity of potassium and sodium?
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