# Magnesium reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to form magnesium chloride and hydrogen gas. Describe what happens during this reaction and explain why magnesium is able to react with hydrochloric acid whilst copper does not.

> AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462) — 4.4.2 Reactions of acids · Describe and Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Magnesium displaces hydrogen from the acid / magnesium is more reactive than hydrogen
2. Magnesium atoms form positive ions (Mg²⁺) during the reaction
3. Copper is less reactive than hydrogen / copper is lower in the reactivity series than hydrogen
4. The reactivity of a metal is related to its tendency to form positive ions / copper has a lower tendency to form positive ions than magnesium

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