Does Zinc React with Acetic and Phosphoric Acid?

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SUMMARY

Zinc (Zn) reacts with both acetic acid (CH3COOH) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4), resulting in the liberation of hydrogen gas. The standard electrode potential for zinc is -0.763 V, indicating that zinc is oxidized while hydrogen ions are reduced during these reactions. The balanced chemical equations for these reactions are Zn + 2CH3COOH --> H2 + Zn(CH3COO)2 for acetic acid and 3Zn + 2H3PO4 --> 3H2 + Zn3(PO4)2 for phosphoric acid. The rate of reaction is influenced by the concentration and pH of the acids involved.

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Does zinc react with both acetic acid (CH3COOH) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4)? I can't figure out the chemical equations for them and am wondering if no reactions occur.

Thanks.
 
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Dropping a piece of Zn metal into an acid will cause the liberation of hydrogen.

The standard electrode (reduction) potential Eo of Zn, i.e.

Zn2+ + 2 e- --> Zn is -0.763 V

whereas the potential for hydrogen, the reference is 0.

2 H+ + 2 e- --> H2 ,

so zinc will be oxidized and H will be reduced, and the rate will be determined by the strength or concentration (pH) of the acid and the dissolution of the Zn.
 
Since I'm on the subject of zinc, did I balance/write these chemical equations properly?

Zn + 2AgNO3 --> 2Ag + Zn(NO3)2 (zinc with silver nitrate)

Zn + Cu(NO3)2 --> Cu + Zn(NO3)2 (zinc with copper nitrate)

Thanks.
 
Looks fine.
 
Are these chemical equations even remotely correct?

(zinc with acetic acid) Zn + 2CH3CO2H --> H2 + Zn(C2H3O2)2

(zinc with phosphoric acid) 3Zn + 2H3PO4 --> 3H2 + Zn3(PO4)2

Thanks.
 
Any volunteers?

Thanks.
 
Looks OK, although I would write Zn(CH3CO2)2 to be consistent on both sides of equation.
 
Last edited:

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