Chemical reactions: acid and metal
I can describe what happens when an acid reacts with a metal and write word and symbol equations for these reactions.
Chemical reactions: acid and metal
I can describe what happens when an acid reacts with a metal and write word and symbol equations for these reactions.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- When a metal reacts with acid bubbles may form, it is exothermic and the metal reduces in size (disappears).
- Different metals have varying reactivity with acids.
- When a metal reacts with an acid, the products are a metal salt and hydrogen gas.
- The word equation for a metal and acid reaction is: metal + acid → metal salt + hydrogen.
- The test for hydrogen gas is to introduce a lit splint, which will make a squeaky pop in hydrogen.
Keywords
Effervescence - when bubbles of gas are produced in a liquid; another way of saying a liquid is fizzing
Corrosion - when a metal reduces in size due to a chemical reaction
Chemical test - when a chemical reaction is carried out to determine the presence of a substance
Acid - a solution that has a pH of less than 7
Metal salt - a compound comprising of a metal and a non-metal
Common misconception
Pupils can expect that all reactions will be vigorous and they will see lots of bubbles being formed instantly.
Get pupils to leave and observe their metal + acid reactions over a period of time, e.g. 5 minutes. This will ensure that they will be able to observe bubbles forming more slowly for metals such as iron or zinc.
To help you plan your year 9 science lesson on: Chemical reactions: acid and metal, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 9 science lesson on: Chemical reactions: acid and metal, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 3 science lessons from the Acids and bases unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Test tubes, test tube rack, pipette, metals (e.g. magnesium, zinc, copper, iron), acid, Bunsen burner, splints.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - chemicals
- Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Tools used to crush and grind substances.
A scale from 1 - 14 which measures acidity or alkalinity of solutions.
A solution with a pH of less than 7.
A substance which reacts with an acid to form a salt and water.
This forms when a substance dissolves in a liquid.
A soluble substance with a pH greater than 7.
Zn
Mg
Cu
Ca
Pb
Fe