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Acid + Metal → Metal Salt + Hydrogen

Key Stage 3

Meaning

Acid + Metal → Metal Salt + Hydrogen is the general equation for a neutralisation reaction between a metal and an acid.

About 'Acid + Metal' Reactions

Acid + Metal reactions are exothermic so the there will be a temperature rise.
The reaction between a metal and an acid produces Hydrogen gas which can be seen bubbling from the metal.
The reaction between a metal and an acid produces a Metal Salt.

Examples

Acid + MetalMetal Salt + Hydrogen

Hydrochloric Acid + LithiumLithium Chloride + Hydrogen
Hydrochloric Acid + IronIron Chloride + Hydrogen
Sulphuric Acid + PotassiumPotassium Sulphate + Hydrogen
Sulphuric Acid + AluminiumAluminium Sulphate + Hydrogen
Nitric Acid + MagnesiumMagnesium Nitrate + Hydrogen
Nitric Acid + TitaniumTitanium Nitrate + Hydrogen
Citric Acid + SodiumSodium Citrate + Hydrogen
Citric Acid + NickelNickel Citrate + Hydrogen
Ethanoic Acid + CalciumCalcium Ethanoate + Hydrogen
Ethanoic Acid + ManganeseManganese Ethanoate + Hydrogen

Key Stage 4

Meaning

Acid + Metal → Metal Salt + Hydrogen is the general equation for a neutralisation reaction between a metal and an acid.

About 'Acid + Metal' Reactions

Acid + Metal reactions are exothermic so the there will be a temperature rise.
Acid + Metal reactions occur when the metal is more reactive than Hydrogen. This means the metal can lose electrons more easily than Hydrogen can.
During an Acid + Metal reaction the H+ ions gain an electron from the metal to produce Hydrogen gas.

Examples

Acid + MetalMetal Salt + Hydrogen

Hydrochloric Acid + LithiumLithium Chloride + Hydrogen

\(HCl(aq) + Li(s) → LiCl(aq) + H_2(g)\)

Hydrochloric Acid + Iron (III)Iron (III) Chloride + Hydrogen

\(6HCl(aq) + 2Fe(s) → 2FeCl_3(aq) + 3H_2(g)\)

Sulphuric Acid + PotassiumPotassium Sulphate + Hydrogen

\(H_2SO_4(aq) + 2K(s) → K_2SO_4(aq) + H_2(g)\)

Sulphuric Acid + AluminiumAluminium Sulphate + Hydrogen

\(3H_2SO_4(aq) + 2Al(s) → Al_2(SO_4)_3(aq) + 3H_2(g)\)

Nitric Acid + MagnesiumMagnesium Nitrate + Hydrogen

\(2HNO_3(aq) + Mg(s) → Mg(NO_3)_2(aq) + H_2(g)\)

Nitric Acid + Titanium (III)Titanium (III) Nitrate + Hydrogen

\(6HNO_3(aq) + 2Ti(s) → 2Ti(NO_3)_3(aq) + 3H_2(g)\)

Ethanoic Acid + SodiumSodium Ethanoate + Hydrogen

\(2CH_3COOH(aq) + 2Na(s) → 2CH_3COONa(aq) + H_2(g)\)

Ethanoic Acid + CalciumCalcium Ethanoate + Hydrogen

\(2CH_3COOH(aq) + Ca(s) → (CH3COO)_2Ca(aq) + H_2(g)\)