Practical: Investigate Metals Reacting with Acids (Edexcel IGCSE Science (Double Award))
Revision Note
Written by: Stewart Hird
Reviewed by: Lucy Kirkham
Practical: Investigate Metals reacting with acids
Aim
To investigate the reactions between dilute hydrochloric and sulfuric acids with the metals magnesium, iron and zinc
Diagram
Mg, Fe and Zn reacting with acid
Investigating the reactions of dilute acids with metals
Method
Wear some safety glasses before handling acids
Using a small measuring cylinder, add 5 cm3 of dilute hydrochloric acid to each of three test tubes
Add about 1 cm length of magnesium ribbon to the first tube, observe and note down what you see
Use a lighted splint to test for any gases given off
To the second test tube add a few pieces of iron filings and to the third some zinc turnings
Observe what happens, test for any gases and note down your observations
Repeat the experiment with dilute sulfuric acid
Results
Metals with Acids Observations Table
Metal | With dilute hydrochloric acid | With dilute sulfuric acid |
|---|---|---|
Magnesium | Dissolves quickly, gets hot, gas given off which goes pop with a lighted splint, colourless solution left | Rapid bubbling, splint goes pop, metal dissolves |
Iron | Very slow bubbling | Slow reaction, small bubbles seen |
Zinc | Bubbles given off, metal slowly dissolves | Metal dissolves forming colourless solution, gas given off slowly |
Table of acid-metal reactions
Metal | Sulfuric acid | Hydrochloric acid |
|---|---|---|
Magnesium | Mg (s) + H2SO4 (aq) → MgSO4 (aq) + H2 (g) | Mg (s) + 2HCl (aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g) |
Zinc | Zn (s) + H2SO4 (aq) → ZnSO4 (aq) + H2 (g) | Zn (s) + 2HCl (aq) → ZnCl2 (aq) + H2 (g) |
Iron | Fe (s) + H2SO4 (aq) → FeSO4 (aq) + H2 (g) | Fe (s) + 2HCl (aq) → FeCl2 (aq) + H2 (g) |
Conclusion
The metals can be ranked in reactivity order Mg > Zn > Fe
The three metals react in the same with both acids
Hydrogen and a metal salt solution is produced
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