Lesson 6 of 7

Acids and metals

Goal: Describe how acids react with metals.

Puzzles for this lesson

Word search0 of 8 foundCrossword0 of 37 letters
A strip of metal in a test tube of acid, with bubbles rising from it

Many metals react with acids. The reaction makes a salt and hydrogen gas.

metal + acid → salt + hydrogen

  • You see fizzing. The bubbles are hydrogen gas.
  • Example: magnesium + hydrochloric acid → magnesium chloride + hydrogen.
A lit splint held at the mouth of a test tube
The test for hydrogen. Hold a lit splint in the gas. Hydrogen burns with a squeaky pop.

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Key words in this lesson

Acid Has a pH below 7

Salt Made when an acid is neutralised

Hydrogen Gas made when a metal reacts with an acid

For teachers: AQA 3.6.1 · Pearson Edexcel 23.1 in part, 26.2 in part · Cambridge 7Cp.04 in part, 8Cc.03 in part, 9Cc.03 in part