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Zinc metal reacts with hydrochloric acid (HCl) to produce hydrogen gas.

What best describes this reaction?

A single replacement reaction takes place because zinc is more reactive than hydrogen.
A single replacement reaction takes place because zinc is more reactive than chlorine.
A double replacement reaction takes place because zinc is less reactive than hydrogen.
A double replacement reaction takes place because zinc is less reactive than chlorine.

1 answer

The correct description of the reaction between zinc metal and hydrochloric acid (HCl) is:

A single replacement reaction takes place because zinc is more reactive than hydrogen.

In this reaction, zinc (Zn) displaces hydrogen (H) from hydrochloric acid, producing zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) and hydrogen gas (H₂). This type of reaction is classified as a single replacement reaction because one element (zinc) replaces another element (hydrogen) in a compound (HCl). Zinc is indeed more reactive than hydrogen, which allows it to displace hydrogen from the acid.