Reactions of metals with acid
When metals react with acids, a salt of the metal and hydrogen gas are formed.
We can investigate the reactivity of different metals by placing samples in acid and comparing the results.
Watch this video to see how this experiment can be carried out.
Reaction of metals with acid
This is the general word equation for the reaction:
metal + acid → salt + hydrogen
The salt of the metal produced in the reaction depends on the acid used. Salts are named following the rules in this table.
| Acid name | Salt name ending |
| Hydrochloric acid | ...chloride |
| Sulfuric acid | ...sulfate |
| Nitric acid | ...nitrate |
| Acid name | Hydrochloric acid |
|---|---|
| Salt name ending | ...chloride |
| Acid name | Sulfuric acid |
|---|---|
| Salt name ending | ...sulfate |
| Acid name | Nitric acid |
|---|---|
| Salt name ending | ...nitrate |
We can use this rule to write out equations of different reactions, for example the reaction of magnesium with hydrochloric acid.
Word equation
magnesium + hydrochloric acid → magnesium chloride + hydrogen
Chemical equation
Mg(s) + 2 HCl(aq) → MgCl2(s) + H2(g)
Metals above hydrogen on the electrochemical series react with acids
