Question

What happens when an acid reacts with a metal? Give the chemical equation of the reaction involved.

Answer 1

When an acid reacts with a metal, then a salt and hydrogen gas are formed.

\[\ce{Metal + Acid -> Salt + Hydrogen gas}\]

When dilute sulphuric acid reacts with zinc metal, then zinc sulphate and hydrogen gas are formed.

\[\ce{\underset{(A metal)}{\underset{Zinc}{Zn_{(s)}}} + \underset{(Dilute)}{\underset{Sulphuric acid}{H2SO4_{(aq)}}} -> \underset{(A metal)}{\underset{Zinc sulphate}{ZnSO4_{(aq)}}} + \underset{Hydrogen}{H2_{(g)}}}\]