Metals and Acids

• Key terms


  • acid
  • displacement reaction
  • metal
  • reaction
  • reactivity
  • reactivity series
  • salt
  • state symbol
• acid


  A compound containing hydrogen that can be replaced by a metal to form a salt
• displacement reaction


  A reaction where a more reactive element takes the place of a less reactive element in a compound
• metal


  An element that is a good conductor of heat and electricity, and can be hammered into thin sheets
• reaction


  A process that involves the rearrangement of atoms to form new substances
• reactivity


  The tendency of an element to undergo chemical reactions
• reactivity series


  An ordered list of metals from most reactive to least reactive
• salt


  A compound formed when the hydrogen in an acid is replaced by a metal
• state symbol


  A letter in brackets after a substance that indicates its state of matter: (s) = solid, (l) = liquid, (g) = gas, (aq) = dissolved in water
• The three main acids are hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and nitric acid
• Metals reacting with acids


  Produce a salt and hydrogen gas
• Reactions of metals with acids


  • copper + hydrochloric acid ➞ copper chloride + hydrogen
  • iron + sulfuric acid ➞ iron sulfate + hydrogen
  • magnesium + nitric acid ➞ magnesium nitrate + hydrogen
• Reaction of very reactive metals with water

  Produce a metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas
• Reaction of sodium with water


  • sodium + water ➞ sodium hydroxide + hydrogen
• Reaction of other metals with steam

  Produce a metal oxide and hydrogen
• Reaction of magnesium with steam

  • magnesium + steam ➞ magnesium oxide + hydrogen
• Magnesium can be reacted with steam using an experimental set-up with a glass tube, clamp, Bunsen burner, and mineral wool soaked in water
• The gas produced when reacting a metal and an acid can be collected in an upturned test tube and tested for hydrogen by inserting a lit splint, which will produce a 'pop' sound if the gas is hydrogen
• Reactivity series of metals


  • potassium
  • sodium
  • lithium
  • calcium
  • magnesium
  • aluminium
  • zinc
  • iron
  • lead
  • copper
  • silver
  • gold
• Metals reacting with oxygen


  • Magnesium burns vigorously
  • Zinc burns less vigorously
  • Iron burns
  • Lead, copper, and gold do not burn; form a layer of oxide on surface when heated
• Metals and acids


  If a metal reacts with an acid, it produces a salt and hydrogen gas
• Forming a salt from an acid


  • Sulfuric acid has the formula H2SO4. Copper sulfate has the formula CuSO4 - it is a salt because the copper has taken the place of the hydrogen in sulfuric acid.