Reactions between acids and metals

The aim of this lesson is for you to understand how acids react with metals, what is produced when they react and how to test for it. You will see one demonstration and do one experiment!

Magnesium is a metal:

Magnesium is a metal: It is an element so only contains one type of atom (magnesium atoms!) It is shiny It conducts heat It conducts electricity

Hydrochloric acid is a compound

It contains hydrogen atoms and chlorine atoms in pairs Each pair of atoms is called a molecule

There are thousands of the molecules in a bottle, all floating around in water

Each hydrochloric acid molecule is made up of one hydrogen atom and one chlorine atom

Chlorine atom

Hydrochloric acid molecule, formula HCl

Hydrogen atom

What happens when we put magnesium into hydrochloric acid???

What is your prediction?

Looking at what happened in the test tube:

The magnesium reacted with the hydrochloric acid The reaction happens when acid molecules touch the magnesium

When the reaction happened a gas is given off

Zooming into a microscopic level..

We are going to look at the surface of the magnesium

We are now inside the test tube!

H Cl H Cl H Cl Cl

Acid molecules in the water

H

H Cl

Acid molecules in the water

H Cl H Cl

H
Cl

Acid molecules in the water

H
H Cl

H
Cl

Acid molecules Cl Magnesium strip in the water

Cl Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg

Mg
Mg

Mg Mg Mg

Mg Mg Mg

Mg Mg Mg

Mg Mg Mg

Mg
Mg

Mg Mg Mg

Mg Mg
Mg Mg

Mg
Mg

Mg

Mg

We are now inside the test tube!

The acid particles have to touch the magnesium to react with it

H
Cl H Cl

Mg
Mg

Mg Mg Mg

Mg Mg Mg

Mg Mg Mg

Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg

Mg Mg Mg

Mg
Mg

Mg Mg Mg

Mg Mg

Mg Mg Mg

Mg Mg Mg

Mg

Mg Mg
Mg Mg

Mg
Mg

Mg

Mg

We are now inside the test tube!

The acid particles have to touch the magnesium to react with it

H H Cl

Cl Mg
Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg

Mg
Mg

Mg Mg Mg

Mg Mg

Mg Mg Mg

Mg Mg Mg

Mg

Mg Mg
Mg Mg

Mg
Mg

Mg

Mg

We are now inside the test tube! When they react the react atoms Two acid molecules with one re-arrange themselves into magnesium atom new molecules
H

H Cl

Cl Mg
Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg

Mg
Mg

Mg Mg Mg

Mg Mg

Mg Mg Mg

Mg Mg Mg

Mg

Mg Mg
Mg Mg

Mg
Mg

Mg

Mg

We are now inside the test tube!

Hydrogen which is a gas so bubbles up to The atoms now make 2 new the surface molecules
Magnesium chloride which stays in the water
Mg
Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg H H

Cl

Cl Mg

The magnesium disappears

Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg

Mg Mg
Mg Mg

Mg
Mg

Mg

Mg

So, how can we tell if the bubbles were really hydrogen molecules???? Hydrogen is explosive, so it will make a lighted splint go pop. This is the test for hydrogen!

pop!

Describing the reaction

magnesium + hydrochloric acid magnesium chloride + hydrogen
Mg H Cl H Cl Mg Cl Cl H H

Mg + 2HCl MgCl2 + H2
H H Cl Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg Mg

Cl Mg
Mg Mg Mg Mg

Mg
Mg

Mg Mg Mg

Mg Mg

Mg Mg Mg

Mg Mg Mg

Mg

Mg Mg
Mg Mg

Mg
Mg

Mg

Mg

More equations to fill in the gaps!

hydrogen zinc chloride + ____________ zinc + hydrochloric acid ______________ lithium ________ + hydrochloric acid lithium chloride + hydrogen calcium hydrogen _______ + sulphuric acid calcium sulphate + ____________ Homework: design a sheet to tell someone how to make hydrogen and how to test for it.