What are the products when metals react with strong acids?

Answer 1

Usually, an acid reacts with a metal to form a metal salt and hydrogen. However this depends if the metal is reactive or not. For example, magnesium, (Mg) is a violently reactive metal to hydrochloric acid; therefore, making magnesium chloride and hydrogen:

Magnesium+Hydrochloric acid=Magnesium chloride+Hydrogen

Also, if an experiment takes place, between a metal and a acid, bubbles will appear showing hydrogen. But remember, only with reactive metals!

However, if the metal is nonreactive it will not react with dilute acids such as;sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid and nitric acid. Take copper for example. Copper is nonreactive to dilute acids. However, a brief reaction still takes place, but not all the copper will react. When the reaction takes place a layer of either copper sulfate, copper chloride, or copper nitrate will form between the dilute acid and the copper. Not all the copper has reacted, (only a layer). This layer with the remaining copper is insoluble in water, and quickly forms a coating around the copper which prevents further attacks from acids. You can also know if metals are nonreactive or reactive, by looking at the reactivity series. They go in order starting with the most reactive.

Most reactive

1. Potassium

2. Sodium

3. Calcium

4.magnesium

5.aluminum

6.Zinc

7.Iron

Least reactive

8. Tin

9. Lead

10. Copper

11. Silver

12. Gold

13. Platinum

Read more: What_is_formed_when_an_acid_reacts_with_a_metal