Investigating the Effect of Concentration of Dilute Hydrochloric Acid with Magnesium Metal

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Investigating the Effect of Concentration of Dilute Hydrochloric Acid with Magnesium Metal

Aim:

To investigate the effect of concentration of dilute hydrochloric acid

when it reacts with magnesium metal.

Scientific Knowledge:

Concentrated acid contains many acid particles. In order for a

reaction to take place acid particles must collide with magnesium

atoms breaking the chemical bonds, there must also be enough energy

within the reaction for them to collide; otherwise they would simply

bounce off each other. A reaction that does have enough energy to

create a reaction is referred to as an effective collision. Within a

reaction containing a high concentration of acid, a collision between

acid particles and magnesium atoms is very likely. The more collisions

made, the quicker the reaction will take place. Therefore using dilute

acid, as there are not as many particles, collisions between the acid

particles and magnesium atoms are less likely causing the reaction to

take more time. Some reactions, such as iron and oxygen, have such a

slow reaction rate, that it can take up to a day to react.

Magnesium + sulphuric acid ==> magnesium sulphate + hydrogen

Mg(s) + H2SO4 (aq) ==> MgSO4 (aq) + H2 (aq)

Magnesium will react with hydrochloric acid because it is higher in

the reactivity series than hydrogen. When the two chemicals react a

displacement reaction will take place and the magnesium will displace

the hydrogen in the hydrochloric acid forming magnesium chloride and

hydrogen gas.

Prediction:

I predict that as the temperature increases due to the reaction, the

reaction will increase further, because at a higher temperature

molecules move around faster as they have more energy, therefore

increasing the likelihood of a collision. I also predict that the

higher the concentration of acid, the quicker the magnesium will react

and dissolve, as in more concentrated acid there are more particles,

also increasing likelihood of a collision.

Apparatus:

* Test Tube Rack

* Strips of Magnesium Ribbon

* Bottle of Sulphuric Acid

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