Reaction of acids
1. Acid reactions with metals
Acids react with metals to produce a salt and hydrogen.
acid + metal 鈫 salt + hydrogen
Example:
hydrochloric acid + magnesium 鈫 magnesium chloride + hydrogen
2HCl(aq) + Mg(s) 鈫 MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)
Observations: grey solid magnesium disappears, colourless solution produced, heat released, bubbles.
The hydrogen in these reactions can be tested. The test for hydrogen is:
- apply a lighted splint
- a popping sound results
2. Acid reactions with bases
Acids react with bases to form a salt and water.
acid + base 鈫 salt + water
Example:
sulfuric acid + copper(II) oxide 鈫 copper(II) sulfate + water
H2SO4(aq) + CuO(s) 鈫 CuSO4(aq) + H2O(l)
Observations: black solid copper(II) oxide disappears, blue solution produced.
3. Acid reactions with carbonates and hydrogencarbonates
Acids react with metal carbonates and hydrogencarbonates in the same way. These reactions produce salt, water and carbon dioxide.
acid + carbonate 鈫 salt + water + carbon dioxide
or
acid + hydrogencarbonate 鈫 salt + water + carbon dioxide
Example - carbonate:
hydrochloric acid + copper(II) carbonate 鈫 copper(II) chloride + water + carbon dioxide
2HCl(aq) + CuCO3(s) 鈫 CuCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
Observations: green solid copper(II) carbonate disappears, blue solution produced, heat released, bubbles.
Example - hydrogencarbonate:
hydrochloric acid + sodium hydrogencarbonate 鈫 sodium chloride + water + carbon dioxide
HCl(aq) + NaHCO3 (s) 鈫 NaCl(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
Observations: solid white sodium hydrogencarbonate disappears, colourless solution produced, bubbles.
The carbon dioxide gas produced in these reactions can be tested. The test for carbon dioxide is:
- bubble gas into colourless limewater (calcium hydroxide solution)
- the solution will change from colourless to milky if the gas is carbon dioxide
4. Acid reactions with ammonia
Acids react with ammonia to form a salt.
acid + ammonia 鈫 ammonium salt
Example:
sulfuric acid + ammonia 鈫 ammonium sulfate
H2SO4(aq) + 2NH3(g) 鈫 (NH4)2SO4(aq)