Chemical reactions: acid and metal
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe what happens when an acid reacts with a metal and write word and symbol equations for these reactions.
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.
Teacher tip
Remind pupils that hydrogen is less dense than air, so they need to keep the test tube upside down or the hydrogen gas will escape and the chemical test will not result in a squeaky pop. Also, the size of the metal pieces will affect the rate of the reaction and this will need to be discussed.
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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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the following key terms to the correct description.
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.
Q2.Which of the following describes what universal indicator is?
Q3.Where are metals found in the periodic table?
Q4.Match the chemical symbols to the correct metal.
Zn
Mg
Cu
Ca
Pb
Fe
Q5.Which types of atom are found in nitric acid (HNO₃)?
Q6.Which types of atom are found in sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄)?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A pupil wants to test the gas that was released when zinc reacted with sulfuric acid.
Which of the following tests would show that this gas was hydrogen?
Q2.Most metals corrode when they react with an acid. What does the word 'corrode' mean in this context?
Q3.Complete the word equation for the following reaction:
magnesium + hydrochloric acid → + hydrogen.
Q4.Which of the following salts is produced when hydrochloric acid reacts with zinc?
Q5.A pupil wrote the following sentence: "When a metal reacts, it forms salt and a gas."
Choose a more accurate sentence from the list.
Q6.Which is the correct symbol equation for the reaction between zinc and sulfuric acid?
To help you plan your 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 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.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
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.