Chemistry a level help/question please.

Hi ! I'm looking at the textbook and it says when you react a metal with a carboxylic acid you get a carboxylate and a hydrogen. I don't get why hydrogen is produced and not H+ from the carboxylic acid. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you <3

Reply 1

panicatthetardis

Hi, in basic terms I’m fairly certain it’s because metal + acid → salt + Hydrogen always, the carboxylate being the salt. The carboxylic acid is being reduced, the metal is oxidised.

Sorry for the dreadful diagram hope it helps :smile:

Reply 2

emmajonesss

Original post by panicatthetardis

Hi, in basic terms I’m fairly certain it’s because metal + acid → salt + Hydrogen always, the carboxylate being the salt. The carboxylic acid is being reduced, the metal is oxidised.

Sorry for the dreadful diagram hope it helps :smile:

Thank you so so much !!!!

Reply 3

Harik0

The metal is neutral at the start. For example, magnesium. By the end, it becomes a 2+ ion as it loses its outer shell electrons. These electrons have to go somewhere. The hydrogen is the only thing that can get these electrons, so becomes neutral.