Question

What happens when a base reacts with a metal?

Answer 1

As we know that when a base reacts with a metal, Hydrogen gas (${{H}_{2}}$) is liberated. The gas then releases burns with a pop sound when a burning candle is brought near the opening of the test tube. Also bases are the substance in chemistry that are slippery in touch, bitter in taste, changes the color of indicators (like they turn red litmus paper to blue), reacts with acids to form salts and also promotes certain chemical reactions.

Complete answer:
Let us get the basic understanding of bases and metals followed by the reaction between them as follows:-
-Base: These are the substances or compounds which are soapy or slippery in touch, bitter in taste, change the color of indicators (like they turn red litmus paper to blue) and react with acids to form salts.
-Metal: These are opaque, lustrous elements which are good conductors of heat and electricity. Most metals are malleable and ductile and usually denser than the other elemental substances.
-The reaction between base and metal is given below:-
$\text{Metal + Base }\to \text{ Hydrogen gas + salt}$
When a base reacts with metal it forms a salt and liberates hydrogen gas (${{H}_{2}}$) which is proven by taking a burning candle near to the mouth of the test tube and it makes the gas released burn with a pop sound.
For example: $2NaOH+Zn\to {{H}_{2}}+N{{a}_{2}}Zn{{O}_{2}}$
Here sodium hydroxide (which is a strong base) reacts with zinc metal to produce hydrogen gas along with its salt.
-Hence, hydrogen gas (${{H}_{2}}$) is released along with the salt when a base reacts with a metal.

Note:
-Remember that when acid reacts with a metal, it also liberates hydrogen gas (${{H}_{2}}$) along with the salt. This is one of the common properties between acids and bases.
-Also try to learn and understand the various properties of acids and bases for solving such types of questions.