Which gas is produced when a metal reacts with sulfuric acid?

• A. Hydrogen.
• B. Oxygen.
• C. Carbon dioxide.
• D. Nitrogen.

Answer: (A)

Hydrogen gas is produced. In a metal reacting with sulfuric acid, the metal atoms donate electrons to the hydrogen ions (H+) in the acid. Those H+ ions gain electrons and form hydrogen molecules (H2) that bubble off as a gas. The sulfuric acid is converted to a metal sulfate, so you can picture it as metal + H2SO4 → metal sulfate + H2. For example, zinc reacting with sulfuric acid gives zinc sulfate and hydrogen. The other gases listed would come from different processes, not this simple acid–metal reaction.