🧪 Chemistry Lab
SPM Acid Reactions
⌂ Home

ACIDS, BASES & SALTS / VIRTUAL EXPERIMENT

Same acid.
Different reactions.

Four test tubes. Four magnesium samples. Watch what happens with dilute hydrochloric acid, record your observations, then work out the products.

  1. 01
    Run the experimentLook closely at each test tube.
  2. 02
    Record what you seeBubbles? A disappearing solid?
  3. 03
    Complete the equationsUse your evidence to find the products.

01 / THE EXPERIMENT BENCH

What happens in each tube?

Dilute HCl(aq) · room temperature · acid in excessSchematic animation · timing is illustrative
TUBE 01Metal

Magnesium

Mg(s)

Magnesium with hydrochloric acid A strip of silvery-grey ribbon. Run this tube to observe what happens. HCl 01

A strip of silvery-grey ribbon

Ready to observe

TUBE 02Metal oxide

Magnesium oxide

MgO(s)

Magnesium oxide with hydrochloric acid A small amount of white powder. Run this tube to observe what happens. HCl 02

A small amount of white powder

Ready to observe

TUBE 03Metal carbonate

Magnesium carbonate

MgCO3(s)

Magnesium carbonate with hydrochloric acid Small pieces of a white solid. Run this tube to observe what happens. HCl 03

Small pieces of a white solid

Ready to observe

TUBE 04Soluble salt

Magnesium nitrate

Mg(NO3)2(aq)

Magnesium nitrate with hydrochloric acid A colourless aqueous solution. Run this tube to observe what happens. HCl 04

A colourless aqueous solution

Ready to observe

0 of 4 tubes observed

Bubble size and speed illustrate the observations; they do not identify the gas. Both gases and all solutions here are colourless. The blue-grey shading outlines the liquid.

Read a text description of the experiments
Run a tube to make its observation available here.

02 / YOUR LAB NOTEBOOK

Observe first. Explain next.

Your entries stay here while you explore.

Describe what you can see in each tube, then enter the products. Use chemical formulae or names. Product order does not matter; coefficients and state symbols are optional.

TEST TUBEYOUR OBSERVATIONCOMPLETE THE REACTION
01

Magnesium

MgRun this tube first

2HCl(aq) + Mg(s) →

02

Magnesium oxide

MgORun this tube first

2HCl(aq) + MgO(s) →

03

Magnesium carbonate

MgCO3Run this tube first

2HCl(aq) + MgCO3(s) →

04

Magnesium nitrate

Mg(NO3)2Run this tube first

HCl(aq) + Mg(NO3)2(aq) →

If nothing reacts chemically, enter “no reaction”.

0 of 4 equations correct

Look for evidence. No bubbles does not always mean no reaction. A solid disappearing can also be a clue.

Teacher notes & references

This model uses excess dilute hydrochloric acid and small samples at room temperature. The fourth sample is magnesium nitrate solution, so there is no solid to dissolve. It remains a solution of dissolved ions, with no net ionic reaction.

Reaction timing, bubble sizes and bubbling patterns are illustrative. Actual rates depend on acid concentration, temperature, sample size and surface area; the animations do not establish a universal rate comparison. Gas tests, rather than bubble colour or size, identify hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Written observations are for student reflection and are not automatically graded.