Question

What happens when zinc metal is added to an acid? Give the chemical equation involved.

Answer 1

When zinc metal is added to an acid, it reacts with the acid to form a salt and hydrogen gas.

Example:

\[\ce{Zn + 2HCl -> ZnCl2 ​+ H2 ​↑}\]

Thus, hydrogen gas is evolved, which can be identified by its characteristic pop sound when tested safely in a laboratory.