Acids reacting with metals

• Acids

  Hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid
• All acids contain hydrogen
• Metals more reactive than hydrogen


  Can displace hydrogen from acids
• Reaction between sulfuric acid and magnesium

  1. Magnesium displaces hydrogen

  2. Produces magnesium sulfate and hydrogen gas
• Salt

  Product when acids react with metals
• Acids produce hydrogen ions H+ in aqueous solutions
• Reaction between acids and metals

  1. Produces a salt

  2. Produces hydrogen gas
• Salts produced


  • From hydrochloric acid - end in chloride
  • From sulfuric acid - end in sulfate
• Reaction of magnesium with hydrochloric acid

  Produces magnesium chloride and hydrogen gas
• Oxidation


  When atoms lose electrons
• Reaction of magnesium with sulfuric acid

  Produces magnesium sulfate and hydrogen gas
• Reduction

  When ions gain electrons
• Magnesium

  • Reacts rapidly with acids
  • More reactive than hydrogen
• Reaction of magnesium with hydrochloric acid

  1. Magnesium atoms lose 2 electrons to form Mg2+ ions

  2. Hydrogen ions gain electrons to form hydrogen gas
• Reaction of zinc with hydrochloric acid

  Produces zinc chloride and hydrogen gas
• Reaction of zinc with hydrochloric acid

  1. Zinc atoms lose 2 electrons to form Zn2+ ions

  2. Hydrogen ions gain electrons to form hydrogen gas
• Reaction of zinc with sulfuric acid

  Produces zinc sulfate and hydrogen gas
• Reaction of iron with hydrochloric acid

  1. Iron atoms lose electrons to form Fe2+ ions

  2. Hydrogen ions gain electrons to form hydrogen gas
• Zinc


  • Reacts quite rapidly with acids
  • More reactive than hydrogen
• Reaction of iron with hydrochloric acid

  Produces iron chloride and hydrogen gas
• Magnesium atoms


  React very rapidly with dilute acids
• Reaction of iron with sulfuric acid


  Produces iron sulfate and hydrogen gas
• Zinc atoms


  React quite rapidly with dilute acids
• Iron atoms


  React slowly with dilute acids
• Iron


  • Reacts fairly slowly with acids
  • Slightly more reactive than hydrogen
• Iron atoms do not easily form the positive ion Fe2+