Question

When HCl(aq) reacts with Zn(s), which of the following products will be formed?
A. Water and a salt
B. An acid and a base
C. A salt and hydrogen gas
D. A nonmetal oxide
E. A metal oxide

Answer 1

The element with a higher electropositive value displaces the element with a lower electropositive value. The element zinc is one of the highest reactive elements and reacts with other elements to form new products.

Complete step by step answer:
Displacement reaction:
When an atom with a high electropositive value of the reactant displaces the other atom with a low electropositive value of other reactants to generate a new product, then the reaction is known as displacement reaction.
The reaction between aqueous hydrochloric acid and zinc metal is shown below.
$Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq) \to ZnC{l_2} + {H_2}$
Zinc being the reactive element reacts with an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride to form a salt zinc chloride and a byproduct hydrogen gas.
In this reaction, the electropositive value of zinc is more than hydrogen, so zinc displaces the hydrogen atom from the hydrogen chloride to form the salt.
Thus, when HCl (aq) reacts with Zn(s), salt and hydrogen gas is formed.
Therefore, the correct option is C.

Additional information: The reaction between the metal and the acid is exothermic in nature. The hydrogen gas formed in the reaction is observed by the evolution of bubbles.

Note:
Not every metal reacts in the same way with the acid. Some metals are resistant to corrosion. The reactivity in metals decreases in the order as shown below.
Mg > Al > Zn > Fe