In an experiment with hydrochloric acid and metals (1 magnesium, 2 copper, 3 zinc, 4 iron, 5 aluminium), what word equation should be written for reactions 1 and 5?

What you are being asked to write

You need the word equations for the reactions between hydrochloric acid ($HCl$) and the metals in containers 1 and 5. From the list, container 1 is magnesium and container 5 is aluminium.

Pattern for acid + metal reactions

For reactive metals, the general word equation is:

acid + metal → salt + hydrogen

With hydrochloric acid, the salt formed is a metal chloride.

Reaction 1: magnesium with hydrochloric acid

Magnesium reacts with hydrochloric acid to form magnesium chloride and hydrogen gas:

magnesium + hydrochloric acid → magnesium chloride + hydrogen

Reaction 5: aluminium with hydrochloric acid

Aluminium reacts with hydrochloric acid to form aluminium chloride and hydrogen gas:

aluminium + hydrochloric acid → aluminium chloride + hydrogen

Quick check (why “chloride” and “hydrogen”?)

• $HCl$ contains chloride, so the salt is a metal chloride.
• Acids produce hydrogen gas when they react with a reactive metal.