You have been tasked with determining whether a granulated, shiny metal is ahearnium or zinc.

Question

You have been tasked with determining whether a granulated, shiny metal is ahearnium or zinc. A known mass of the unknown metal is reacted with hydrochloric acid to produce a dissolved ionic compound and hydrogen gas. The gas is collected at a pressure of 92 kPa and a temperature of 21°C. What can you conclude about the identity of the metal?

Table 2: Reaction of a metal with hydrochloric acid

Mass of metal reacted (g)	Volume of H2 (g) produced (mL)
0.25	100

Ahearnium (one-charge)

37                                      +1	Number of protons: 37	State at SATP: solid
Ah	Atomic Mass: 82.879	Melting Point: 35°C
Group Number: 1	Boiling Point: 725°C
Ahearnium	Charge: +1	Electronegativity: 0.79
82.879

Answer 1

Use ideal gas law to determine moles of H₂; n = pv/RT = 92(.1)/8.314(294) = 0.0037

Balanced equation for Zn + HCl; Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl₂ + H₂

Do the stoic. 0.0037 mol H₂/1 X [1molZn/1mol H₂] X [65.4g Zn / 1mol Zn] = 2.5g Zn

so Zinc is the metal