What does zinc produce when reacted with dilute sulphuric acid?

Zinc is a reactive metal that lies above hydrogen in the reactivity series, which means it can displace hydrogen from dilute acids. When zinc reacts with dilute sulphuric acid, it displaces the hydrogen present in the acid and forms zinc sulphate along with hydrogen gas. The reaction can be written as: Zn + H₂SO₄ → ZnSO₄ + H₂.

• This is a classic example of a displacement reaction, where a more reactive metal pushes out a less reactive element (hydrogen, in this case) from a compound
• The hydrogen gas released can be tested using a burning splint — it produces a characteristic "pop" sound, confirming its presence
• Zinc sulphate, the other product, remains dissolved in the solution and is colourless
• This reaction is commonly used in laboratories to generate hydrogen gas and is also a good demonstration of how metals differ in reactivity