What is the term for the reaction that occurs when an acid reacts with a metal?

The reaction that occurs when an acid reacts with a metal is correctly identified as a single displacement reaction. In this type of reaction, the metal displaces hydrogen ions from the acid to form a salt and hydrogen gas. For example, when zinc reacts with hydrochloric acid, zinc displaces the hydrogen ions, resulting in the formation of zinc chloride and hydrogen gas.

This process can be represented by the general equation for a metal reacting with an acid:

[ \text{Metal} + \text{Acid} \rightarrow \text{Salt} + \text{Hydrogen gas} ]

Here, the metal takes the place of hydrogen in the acid, illustrating the characteristic of a single displacement reaction. This understanding is critical in predicting the products when specific metals react with different acids, which is a common experiment in chemistry labs.

In this context, a double displacement reaction would involve the exchange of ions between two compounds, which does not apply when an acid directly interacts with a metal. A neutralization reaction, on the other hand, specifically refers to the interaction between an acid and a base to produce salt and water. Decomposition reactions involve the breaking down of a single compound into two or more products and are not applicable to the reaction of acids