Reactivity of Metals with Hydrochloric Acid

Reactivity of Metals with Hydrochloric Acid

• Copper is an unreactive metal, and there is no reaction with hydrochloric acid regardless of temperature or concentration.

Iron and Hydrochloric Acid

• Iron is slightly more reactive than copper, but at room temperature with dilute acid, there is still no reaction.
• Increasing the concentration or heating the solution can cause iron to react with hydrochloric acid.

Zinc and Hydrochloric Acid

• Zinc is more reactive than iron and copper, and it reacts with hydrochloric acid at room temperature, producing hydrogen gas.
• Small bubbles of hydrogen gas will rise from the zinc metal, indicating a reaction.
• The reaction is slow with dilute acid at room temperature, but it does proceed.

Magnesium and Hydrochloric Acid

• Magnesium is the most reactive metal, and it begins an immediate and vigorous reaction with dilute acid.
• The reaction produces hydrogen gas and a significant amount of heat.
• The reaction is rapid, with the magnesium completely dissolving to form magnesium chloride and hydrogen gas within a short period of time.

Reactivity of Metals with Hydrochloric Acid

• Copper is a very unreactive metal and does not react with hydrochloric acid, regardless of temperature or concentration.
• Iron is slightly more reactive than copper, but it does not react with dilute hydrochloric acid at room temperature.
• Increasing the concentration or heating the solution enables iron to react with hydrochloric acid.
• Zinc is more reactive than iron and reacts slowly with dilute hydrochloric acid at room temperature, producing hydrogen gas bubbles.
• Magnesium is the most reactive metal and reacts vigorously with dilute hydrochloric acid, producing hydrogen gas and heat, causing the magnesium to completely dissolve into magnesium chloride and hydrogen gas within a short time.