Knowledge Flow

Study of the First Element-Hydrogen - Exercise 6(B)

Solution 1
i. Zn + HCl → ZnCl2 + H2
ii. Zn + 2NaOH → Na2ZnO2 + H2
iii. Zn + H2O → ZnO + H2

Question 2
For laboratory preparation of hydrogen, give the following:
a. materials used
b. method of collection
c. chemical equation
d. fully-labelled diagram

Solution 2
a. Granulated zinc, dilute HCl or dil. H2SO4
b. It is collected by the downward displacement of water.
c. Zn + HCl → ZnCl2 + H2
d.
 Question 3
a. Name the impurities present in hydrogen prepared in the laboratory.
b. How can these impurities be removed?

Solution 3
a. Hydrogen sulphide, sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, phosphine, arsine, carbon
dioxide and water vapour are impurities present in the laboratory.
b. The impurities can be removed from hydrogen by passing it through
1. Silver nitrate solution to remove arsine and phosphine.
AsH3 + 6AgNO3 → Ag3As + 3AgNO3 + 3HNO3
PH3 + 6AgNO3 → Ag3P + 3AgNO3 + 3HNO3
2. Lead nitrate solution to remove hydrogen sulphide.
Pb(NO3)2 + H2S → PbS + 2HNO3
3. Caustic potash solution to remove sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide and oxides of
nitrogen.
SO2 + 2KOH → K2SO3 + H2O
CO2 + 2KOH→ K2CO3+ H2O
2NO2 + 2KOH →KNO2 + KNO3 + H2O
4. A drying agent used to dry the gas. Common drying agents such as fused calcium
chloride, caustic potash stick and phosphorus pentoxide remove water vapour.
So, the gas is purified and dried and then collected over mercury because mercury does
not react with it.

Question 4
Which test should be made before collecting hydrogen in a gas jar?

Solution 4
Test: Collect some amount of gas in a test tube and take it to a flame.
If the gas burns quietly, then there is no more air in the flask.

Question 5
Why nitric acid is not used in the preparation of hydrogen?

Solution 5
 Nitric acid is a powerful oxidising agent, and the oxygen formed due to its
decomposition oxidises hydrogen to give water thus defeating the purpose of the
reaction.
3Zn + 8HNO3 → 3Zn(NO3)2 + 4H2O + 2NO

Question 6
Why hot concentrated sulphuric acid is not used in the preparation of hydrogen?

Solution 6
Conc. sulphuric acid is not used in the preparation of hydrogen as it will
produce sulphur dioxide.
Zn + 2H2SO4 →ZnSO4 + SO2 + 2H2O

Question 7
Hydrogen is manufactured by 'Bosch Process'.
a. Give the equations with conditions.
b. How can you obtain hydrogen from a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide?

Solution 7
a. C + H2O (CO + H2) - ∆

(CO + H2) + H2O CO2 + 2H2 + ∆

Question 8
Give equations to express the reaction between:
a. Steam and red hot iron
b. Calcium and water

Solution 8
a. 3Fe + 4H2O⇋ Fe3O4 + 4H2
b. Ca + 2H2O ⇋ Ca(OH)2 + H2

Question 9
A small piece of calcium metal is put into a small trough containing water. There is
effervescence and white turbidity is formed.
a. Name the gas formed in the reaction. How would you test the gas?
b. Write an equation for the reaction.
c. What do you observe when a few drops of red litmus solution are added to the turbid
solution.

Solution 9
a. Hydrogen gas. When red litmus is introduced in the solution, it turns blue.
 b. Ca + 2H2O → Ca(OH)2 + H2
c. The solution turns blue.
d. If dilute hydrochloric acid is added to the turbid solution, then
they react and neutralise each other, forming the soluble salt calcium chloride (CaCl2)
and water.
Ca(OH)2 + 2HCl → CaCl2 + 2H2O

Question 10
Thin strips of magnesium,copper and iron are taken.
a. Write down what happens when these metals are treated as follows:
i. Heated in presence of air
ii. Heated with dil.HCl
iii. Added to an aqueous solution of zinc sulphate
b. Arrange these metals in descending order of reactivity.

Solution 10
a.
i. On heating thin strips of magnesium, copper and iron, they form oxides.
ii. Magnesium and iron react with HCl liberating hydrogen and forming their respective
salts. Hydrogen cannot be prepared from metals which are below it in the activity
series of metals (such as copper) because only metals which are more reactive than
hydrogen can displace it from acids.
iii. Only magnesium will displace zinc from zinc sulphate solution because magnesium
is more reactive than zinc in the activity series of metals. No reaction takes place in
case of copper and iron because they are less reactive than zinc.
b. Mg > Fe > Cu

Question 11
Choose the correct option:
a. Hydrogen is evolved by the action of cold dil. HNO3 on
A. Fe B. Cu C. Mg D. Zn
b. Which metal absorbs hydrogen?
A. Al B. Fe C. Pd D. K
c. The composition of nucleus of deuterium is
A. 1 e- and 1P B. 1 P and 1 A
C. 1 n and 1 e- D. 2P and 1 e-
d. Elements which show unique nature in the preparation of hydrogen are:
A. Na, K, Li B. Mg, Ca, Ba
C. Al, Zn, Pb D. Fe, Cu, Ag

Solution 11
a. C. Mg
b. C. Pd
c. C. 1 n and 1 e-
d. C. Al, Zn, Pb

Question 12
Give reasons for the following:
a. Zinc granules are used in lab preparation of hydrogen.
b. Purified and dried hydrogen is collected over mercury.
c. The end of the thistle funnel should be dipped under acid
d. Dilute sulphuric acid cannot be replaced by concentrated acid in the preparation of
hydrogen.

Solution 12
a. Zinc granules are preferred over pure zinc in the lab preparation of hydrogen because
the impurity present in granulated zinc is copper, whose catalysing effect speeds up
the rate of the reaction.
b. Purified and dried hydrogen is collected over mercury because mercury has no
reaction with it.
c. The end of the thistle funnel should be dipped under acid so as to prevent the gas
from escaping from the thistle funnel.
d. Dilute sulphuric acid cannot be replaced by concentrated acid in the preparation of
hydrogen because it is a strong oxidising agent and it will produce sulphur dioxide.