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Zinc reacts with sulfuric acid to produce hydrogen. The reaction is catalysed by copper. In this practical, students can compare the rate of reaction (with and without copper) by means of the rate of production of hydrogen gas bubbles
To investigate the reactions between dilute hydrochloric and sulfuric acids with the metals magnesium, iron and zinc. Diagram. Mg, Fe and Zn reacting with acid. Investigating the reactions of dilute acids with metals. Method. Wear some safety glasses before handling acids.
In this demonstration a mixture of zinc and sulfur produces an unusual chemical reaction when heated. A brilliant flash of light, followed by hot sparks, a hissing sound and a mushroom-shaped cloud of white smoke are generated.
For example, when a stir bar is used for bump prevention with concentrated sulfuric acid, the solution remains colorless (Figure 1.59b). When the same reaction is conducted using a boiling stone, the solution darkens during heating (Figure 1.59c) and eventually turns the entire solution a deep purple-brown color (Figure 1.59d).
Zinc metal reacts with dilute sulphuric acid to produce zinc sulphate and hydrogen gas. The metal displaces Hydrogen from the acid and forms a salt. The chemical equation can be written as: Zn (s) +H2SO4 (aq) ? ZnSO4 (aq) + H2 (g) This reaction is an example of a single displacement reaction.
While other metal/acid combinations react in the same way, recovering the salt by crystallisation (in Lesson 2) may not be as successful as it is using zinc and sulfuric acid. Dilute hydrochloric acid, HCl(aq) – see CLEAPSS Hazcard HC047a and CLEAPSS Recipe Book RB043.
Zinc reacts steadily with both acids to give colourless solutions of zinc chloride or zinc sulfate together with hydrogen. Traditionally, the reaction between zinc and dilute sulfuric acid has been used as a way of making hydrogen gas in the lab.
