Reactions of Dilute Acids with Metals

Dilute acids react with most metals to form a salt and hydrogen gas.
Less reactive metals such as copper, silver, and gold don’t typically react with dilute acids.
The general equation for the reaction between an acid and a metal is: Acid + Metal → Salt + Hydrogen.
An example of this is when hydrochloric acid (HCl) reacts with magnesium (Mg). The resulting products are magnesium chloride (MgCl2) and hydrogen gas (H2).
For this reaction, the balanced chemical equation would be: 2HCl + Mg → MgCl2 + H2.
The reaction between an acid and a metal is a type of displacement reaction. The hydrogen in the acid is displaced by the metal.
The speed of the reaction can be indicated by the rate at which bubbles of hydrogen are formed.
This reaction is an exothermic process, which means it releases energy in the form of heat.
Metals that sit above hydrogen in the reactivity series will react with acids to produce salts and hydrogen.
Zinc, iron, and aluminium all react with dilute acids to yield corresponding salts and hydrogen.
Hydrochloric acid forms chloride salts, sulfuric acid forms sulphate salts, and nitric acid forms nitrate salts.
Metal oxide or hydroxide can also react with acids to form a corresponding salt and water.
Always follow safety procedures when handling acids and reactants to prevent damage to skin or eyes.