Use an activity series to identify two metals that will not generate hydrogen gas when treated with an acid.
We never did the activity and I don't know what the answer is. Please help. Thank you.
Look in your text or notes for the activity series or electromotive force series (of metals). This list consists of a column of metals with the most reactive at the top and the least reactive at the bottom. H is about 2/3 from the top. How are you to know which metals will not displace H gas from an acid? Those metals ABOVE H in the activity series WILL displace H from an acid; those metals below H in the activity series will NOT displace H from an acid. You just pick out two metals below H in the table. I will look on the web and see if I can find a table for you to use just in case you don't have one handy. I will make a supplementary post for that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactivity_series
To identify two metals that will not generate hydrogen gas when treated with an acid, you can use an activity series or an electromotive force series of metals. This list ranks metals from most reactive to least reactive.
First, check if you have a textbook or any notes that contain an activity series or electromotive force series of metals. This list should have a column of metals with the most reactive at the top and the least reactive at the bottom.
Typically, hydrogen (H) is located about 2/3 from the top of the series. To determine which metals will not displace hydrogen gas from an acid, you need to select metals that are positioned below hydrogen in the activity series.
If you do not have access to the activity series or electromotive force series, you can find one on the internet. Wikipedia, for example, provides a comprehensive reactivity series table that you can refer to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactivity_series
By looking at the table, pick two metals that are located below hydrogen to identify the metals that will not generate hydrogen gas when treated with an acid.
Remember, metals above hydrogen in the activity series will displace hydrogen from an acid, while metals below hydrogen will not.