Acid Base & Salt - Class 10th Science

Chemical Properties

How do Acids and Bases React with Metals?

Acids and bases give hydrogen gas and respective salt when reacting with most metals. General reaction for acid and base with metals can be depicted as follows:

Acid + Metal → Salt + Hydrogen

Base + Metal → Salt + Hydrogen

Some metals do not react with acid and base.

Examples:

Reactions of acid with metals

(1) When zinc metal reacts with hydrochloric acid, zinc chloride (a salt) and hydrogen gas are formed.

Zn (s)/Zinc + 2HCl (l)/Hydrochloric acid ZnCl2 (s)/Zinc Chloride + H2 (g)/Hydrogen

(2) When zinc metal reacts with sulphuric acid, zinc sulphate (a salt) and hydrogen gas are formed.

Zn (s)/Zinc + H2SO4 (l)/Sulphuric acid ZnSO4 (aq)/Zinc Sulphate + H2 (g)/Hydrogen

(3) When sodium metal reacts with hydrochloric acid, sodium chloride and hydrogen gas are formed.

2 Na (s)/Sodium + 2HCl (l)/Hydrochloric acid 2NaCl (aq)/Sodium Chloride + H2 (g)/Hydrogen

(4) When an iron metal reacts with a hydrochloric acid solution of iron chloride and hydrogen gas is formed.

Fe (s)/Iron + 2HCl (l)/Hydrochloric acid FeCl2 (aq)/Ferrous Chloride + H2 (g)/Hydrogen

Reaction of base with metals

(1) When sodium hydroxide reacts with zinc metal, it produces sodium zincate and hydrogen gas.

2NaOH (aq)/Sodium Hydroxide + Zn (s)/Zinc Na2ZnO2 (s)/Sodium zincate + H2 (g)/Hydrogen

(2) When sodium hydroxide reacts with aluminium, it produces hydrogen gas and sodium aluminate.

2 NaOH (s)/Sodium Hydroxide + 2 Al (s)/Aluminium + 2 H2O (l)/Water 2 NaAlO2 (aq)/Sodium aluminate + H2 (g)/Hydrogen

Since alkalis react with metals, hence alkalis are not stored in metal containers.