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Reactions of Acids with Metals

acid + metal → salt + hydrogenThis is a displacement reaction and is also a redox reaction.The metal must be more reactive than hydrogen. The metal displaces hydrogen and bubbles of hydrogen gas form.Mg (s) + 2HCl (aq) → MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)
Copper metal will not react with hydrochloric acid as copper is less reactive than hydrogen so copper cannot displace hydrogen from an acid.Mg (s) + 2H+ (aq) → Mg2+(aq) + H2(g)
This is a redox reaction, not a neutralisation: magnesium atoms lose electrons (oxidised) and H+ ions gain electrons (reduced).

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Specification: Edexcel Chemistry (8CH0), AS-level, Topic 3: Redox I. Topic: Types of Reaction.

Key terms in this lesson

displacement reaction
A reaction in which a more reactive element takes the place of a less reactive element in a compound.
redox reaction
A reaction in which oxidation and reduction happen together, with electrons transferred between the species involved.
neutralisation reaction
A reaction between an acid and a base in which hydrogen ions are removed to form water.

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All 8 lessons in Types of Reaction · All Edexcel AS-level Chemistry topics