What substance reacts with dilute acis to produce hydrogen gas

Dilute acids react with relatively reactive metals such as magnesium, aluminium, zinc and iron. The products of the reaction are a salt plus hydrogen gas. Here's a good way to remember it: MASH (M+A→S+H). In general, the more reactive the metal, the faster the reaction.

Reactive metals.

Dilute acids react with relatively reactive metals such as magnesium, aluminium, zinc and iron. The products of the reaction are a salt plus hydrogen gas.

Metal + Acid → Salt + Hydrogen

Here’s a good way to remember it: MASH (M+A→S+H).

The name of the salt depends on the name of the acid. For example:

(1) Magnesium + Hydrochloric acid → Magnesium chloride + Hydrogen

[ Mg + 2HCl → MgCl2 + H2 ]

(2) Zinc + Sulfuric acid → Zinc sulfate + Hydrogen

[ Zn + H2SO4 → ZnSO4 + H2 ]

In general, the more reactive the metal, the faster the reaction. However, aluminium has a protective oxide layer, so it reacts slowly with acids to begin with.

the electronic configuration of an atom with eight electrons is 1s²2s²2p⁴. the orbital diagrams are shown in the figure.

as per the hunds rule:

1. electrons tend to avoid being in the same orbital as per as practicable.

2. electrons in different orbitals of the same energy will have their spin parallel.

this can be illustrated from the multiplicity of the orbitals of the atom. as there are four electrons in the p orbital and p orbital has 3 sub-shells. the electrons can be fed in different ways as shown in the figure but the correct orbital diagram will be as per the hunds rule.