What Happens When You Mix Metal With Acid?

AIM: To show that hydrogen gas is produced when a metal reacts with acid.

EQUIPMENT:  A test tube, a boiling tube, Bunsen burner, wooden splint/match stick, a bottle of acid, a piece of metal and safety glasses.

HYPOTHESIS: I think when we pour the acid on the metal it is going to produce/release a certain type of salt called magnesium sulfate (depending on the type of metal and acid) & hydrogen gas. I would expect to see bubbles much like air bubbles but it would be gas bubbles. Also when you hover a burning wooden splint over it, it would make a loud pop.

Watch this video to help under stand more!

METHOD:

BEFORE EVERYTHING - Make sure you are, wear safety glasses, your hair is tied up, wearing enclosed shoes and you're wear something that isn't baggy.

Step 1 - Correctly light your Bunsen burner to a blue flame.

Step 2 - Add your piece of metal to your test tube and slowly pour 2ml of acid.

Step 3 - Carefully flip the boiling tube above the test tube containing the metal and acid so that the boiling tube overlaps the tube was the metal and acid.

Step 4 - Hold the test tubes together for a few minutes allowing time for the flipped boiling tube to fill with gas.

Step 5 - When you think the tube is full, your lab partner should light a match stick or wooden splint (don't burn your fingers).

Step 6 - Carefully, but quickly, tilt the boiling tube of gas up and put the burning match into the opening of the test tube.

OBSERVATION: When I put the HCL acid in with the metal it bubbled at the acid turned foggy. I also found out that when you leave it to bubble for too long it won't make a big popping sound. Because the first one we did it didn't work so we tried again. The second time our teacher told us a different technique which helped a lot. The Second time we did it, it let out a high pitched pop, which gave us a fright. After that we tried a couple more times with the same technique, we also tried to see if it would work more than once. Before I tried I though it would pop again, but I was wrong. The ones after the second one they were more lower pops.

DISCUSSION: I think when we put the fire in the bubbling Acid and Metal mixture it popped because the hydrogen gas combusted.

CONCLUSION: 

When a metal & acid gas (hydrogen) is introducted to a high heat if combusts and makes a loud pop. I liked doing this experiment because it was fun watching the metal and acids react to each other and getting a fright from the loud pop.