Metals above hydrogen in the reactivity series will react with acids to form a salt plus hydrogen. (eg. Magnesium Sulphate or Zinc Chloride)
METAL + ACID --> SALT + HYDROGEN
Magnesium + Sulphuric Acid --> Magnesium Sulphate + Hydrogen
Aluminium + Hydrochloric Acid --> Aluminium Chloride + Hydrogen
Zinc + Hydrochloric Acid --> Zinc Chloride + Hydrogen
Iron(III) + Hydrochloric Acid --> Iron(III) Chloride + Hydrogen
- The metals are displacing hydrogen
- The higher the metal in the reactivity series, the more violent the reaction
- If you put copper in most acids, you won't see a reaction
- This is because it is below hydrogen in the reactivity series
- These are all exothermic reactions
METAL + ACID --> SALT + HYDROGEN
Magnesium + Sulphuric Acid --> Magnesium Sulphate + Hydrogen
Aluminium + Hydrochloric Acid --> Aluminium Chloride + Hydrogen
Zinc + Hydrochloric Acid --> Zinc Chloride + Hydrogen
Iron(III) + Hydrochloric Acid --> Iron(III) Chloride + Hydrogen