Zinc metal reacts with hydrochloric acid (hcl) to produce hydrogen gas. what best describes this reaction? a single replacement reaction takes place because zinc is more reactive than hydrogen. a single replacement reaction takes place because zinc is more reactive than chlorine. a double replacement reaction takes place because zinc is less reactive than hydrogen. a double replacement reaction takes place because zinc is less reactive than chlorine.

The answer is a single replacement reaction takes place because zinc is more reactive than hydrogen.

The correct statement is a single replacement reaction takes place because zinc is more reactive than hydrogen.

Explanation:

A single displacement reaction is defined as the chemical reaction in which a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its chemical reaction. The reactivity of metals is determined from the series known as reactivity series.

The metals which lie above in the reactivity series are more reactive than the metals which lie below in the series. General equation for these reactions is given as:

where, A is more reactive metal than metal B.

Now, when zinc metal reacts with hydrochloric acid, it leads to the production of zinc chloride salt and hydrogen gas. The equation follows:

Here, zinc is more reactive metal than hydrogen because it lies above in the series.