Question

Which does not react with dilute hydrochloric acid?
A. Copper
B. Zinc
C. Iron
D. Mercury

Answer 1

Hint: The acid whose concentration is very less due to the presence of a large amount of water is called dilute acid. Dilute acids won’t have a capability to react with few metals due to the less activity of few meals when compared to hydrogen ions.

Complete answer:
- In the question it is asked to find the chemical elements which do not react with dilute acids.
- Coming to the given options, option A. Copper. It is metal won’t react with dilute hydrochloric acid due to less activity of copper in the activity series. So option A is correct
- Coming to option B, Zinc. Zinc is the metal highly reactive with dilute hydrochloric acid because it is more active than the hydrogen in the activity series. So, option B is incorrect.
- Coming to option C, Iron. Iron is the metal highly reactive with dilute hydrochloric acid because it is more active than the hydrogen in the activity series. So, option C is incorrect.
- Coming to option D, Mercury. It is metal won’t react with dilute hydrochloric acid due to less activity of copper in the activity series. So option D is correct
- Therefore the metals which do not react with dilute hydrochloric acid are copper and mercury.

So, the correct options are A and D.

Note:
Generally metals react with dilute hydrochloric acid and form respective metal chlorides and liberate hydrogen gas as the products. The formed metal chlorides are going to soluble in the aqueous solution.