Which of the following gases is liberated when zinc reacts with dilute sulfuric acid?

💡 Solution & Explanation

When active metals such as zinc react with dilute sulfuric acid, they undergo a single displacement reaction, producing soluble zinc sulfate and liberating flammable hydrogen gas. Less reactive metals, such as copper or silver, do not displace hydrogen from dilute mineral acids because they sit below hydrogen in the reactivity series. This chemical property is a standard laboratory method for preparing hydrogen gas. Metals placed above hydrogen in the electrochemical series readily displace it from acids.