Title : Rate of reaction of magnesium with hydrochloric acid.

Aim : To investigate the effect of reaction of magnesium with hydrochloric acid.

Apparatus : Single-holed rubber bung and delivery tube , clamp, (100 cm³ and 50 cm³)
measuring cylinders, 2000 ml beaker, 100 cm³ conical flask, stop clock, ruler, sand paper.

Materials : 1M hydrochloric acid solution, water, magnesium ribbon.

Introduction :

In a reaction between Hydrochloric Acid and Magnesium ribbon, the Hydrochloric Acid will
dissolve the Magnesium ribbon and produce Hydrogen gas. All chemical reactions involve
reactants which when mixed may cause a chemical reaction which will make products. In
case the reactants are hydrochloric acid and magnesium ribbon. The chemical reaction takes
place when the magnesium ribbon is dropped into the hydrochloric acid. The products that
are formed during this reaction are hydrogen gas and magnesium chloride.

The formula equation for this experiment is:

Mg (s) + 2HCl (aq) → MgCl₂ (aq) + H₂ (g)

Magnesium will react with hydrochloric acid, because it is higher in the reactivity series that
hydrogen. When the two chemicals react a displacement reaction will take place and the
magnesium will displace the hydrogen in the hydrochloric acid forming magnesium chloride
and hydrogen gas.

Depending on certain factors the rate that this reaction will take place will either increase or
decrease. The factors that may affect the rate of reaction which are temperature of the
hydrochloric acid, mass of the magnesium ribbon used, concentration of the hydrochloric
acid, surface area of the magnesium ribbon use.

All of these factors will change the rate of reaction because of the Collision Theory. This is a
theory that is used to predict the rate of a reaction. The Collision Theory is based on the idea
that for a chemical reaction to take place, it is necessary for the reacting particles to collide
with each other with enough energy to break or form new bonds between the other particles,
which are called a successful collision. During collision if when they collide and they do not
have enough energy to break or form new bonds then they will simple bounce of each other.
Procedure :

1. 50 cm³ of 1M hydrochloric acid was measured using one of the measuring cylinders. The
acid was poured into the 100 cm³ conical flask.

2. The apparatus was set up as shown in the diagram. The trough was half filled with water.

3. The other measuring cylinder was filled with water, and when I turned it upside down I
was make sure that it stays filled with water.

4. When I was ready, 3 cm strip of magnesium ribbon was added to the flask, the bung was
put back into the flask as quickly as I can, and the stop clock was started.

5. The volume of hydrogen gas given off was recorded at suitable intervals (e.g 10 seconds).
The timing was continued until no more gas appears to be given off.

Results :

Table 1 : Table of time intervals and volume of hydrogen gas.

Time 0 10 20 30 40 50 60
intervals
(s)
Volume of 0 21 32 46 51 51 51
H₂ (cm³)

Discussion :

When magnesium ribbon(Mg) was added to hydrochloric acid (HCl), the Mg will dissolve
and will form bubbles of hydrogen gas (H₂). When the Mg dissolves, it forms magnesium
ions with a 2+ charge (Mg2+) , and when the hydrogen atoms form H₂ gas, they leave behind
chloride ions, Cl-. Then, the Mg2+ ions will bond with the Cl- ions. Here is the single
replacement reaction equation:

Mg(s) + 2 HCl(aq) → MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)

The rate of reaction was followed between magnesium and the acid, by measuring the
amount of gas produced at 10 second intervals. In this reaction, the magnesium and acid are
gradually used up. However the acid is in excess, so it is mainly the loss of magnesium
(surface area becomes smaller) that causes the change in the rate. Based on the graph of
volume of hydrogen gas (y-axis) against time (x-axis) is drawn, the slope of the graph is
steepest at the beginning. This shows that the reaction is fastest at the start. As the
magnesium is used up, the rate falls. This can be seen on the graph, as the slope becomes less
steep and then levels out when the reaction has stopped (when no more gas is produced). The
reaction is exothermic, but the dilute acid is in excess. There is some acceleration of the
reaction rate due to the rise in temperature. I noticed the flask becoming slightly warm and
this would affect the rate of reaction.

In this experiment, some errors might be occur :

Limitation
The magnesium ribbon was not clean
properly, therefore the oxide layer still
present on the surface of magnesium ribbon.
Parallax errors might occur when taking the
reading of the volume of hydrogen gas using
measuring cylinder. This cause when the
observer’s eye is not perpendicular to the
meniscus level of the water.
The stop clock did not simultaneously start
when magnesium ribbon is added to the flask
that contains hydrochloric acid solution.
Suggestion
The magnesium ribbon should be clean
properly with fine sandpaper to remove the
oxide layer.
To reduce the error, make sure that the eye
level is perpendicular to the meniscus of the
water in the measuring cylinder and place the
measuring cylinder on the flat surface.
Make sure that the stop clock must start
simultaneously when add the magnesium
ribbon to the flask that contains hydrochloric
acid solution to get accurate results.

Conclusion :

The reaction between magnesium ribbon and hydrochloric acid solution is exothermic
reaction. Furthermore, when the time taken for 10(s) intervals is increases, the volume of
hydrogen gas also increases but the volume of hydrogen gas decreases in the middle of
reaction because magnesium is used up.

Questions :

1. Write an equation for the reaction taking place in the experiment?

Mg(s) + 2 HCl(aq) → MgCl₂(aq) + H₂(g)

2. Plot a graph of volume of gas against time.

 60
Graph of volume of hydrogen gas against time

50
Volume of hydrogen gas (cm³)

40

30

20

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Time (s)

3. Explain the shape of the graph produced.

Based on the graph above, the slope of the graph is steepest at the beginning. This shows that
the reaction is fastest at the start. As the magnesium is used up, the rate falls. This can be seen
on the graph, as the slope becomes less steep and then levels out when the reaction has
stopped (when no more hydrogen gas is produced).

4. Calculate the rate of reaction?

5. This is an exothermic reaction. How would this affect the rate of the reaction? And how
would you adapt the experiment make it a ‘fair test’?
The reaction is exothermic, but the dilute acid is in excess. There is some acceleration of the
reaction rate due to the rise in temperature. Hence, the flask becoming slightly warm and this
would affect the rate of reaction. When the reaction have an increase in temperature it will
favour reverse reaction to use up the heat because this is an exothermic reaction. Therefore,
the rate of reaction will increase. To make it as a fair test, we need to making sure that we
change one factor at a time while keeping all other conditions the same. In addition, repeating
an experiment is an important step to verify that your results are consistent and not just an
accident. Lastly, for this experiment, we should plan to repeat it at least three times but more
is better to obtain accurate results.

References :

1. Nuffield foundation, 2007. Rate of reaction magnesium with hydrochloric acid, [online]
Available at : < http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practical-chemistry/rate-reaction-
magnesium-hydrochloric-acid > [Accessed on 17 April 2013]

2. Jim Clark, 2011. Reaction between Magnesium and hydrochloric acid [online] Available
at : < http://www.chemguide.co.uk/inorganic/group2/reactacids.html> [Accessed on 19 April
2013]

3. 123HelpMe.com, 2000 . The reaction between magnesium and hydrochloric acid . [online]
Available at : < http://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=148762 > [Accessed on 19 April
2013]

4. Geoffrey Neuss, 2007. IB Chemistry Course Companion, Oxford Press.

5. A .Caroline, M. Chris, O. Steve, 2011. Cambridge, Chemistry For The IB Diploma.

Cambridge University Press, UK.