Homework: Chemical Reactions – Levels 4–6
Sulphuric Acid
Joe is planning to write a topic about sulphuric acid.
He starts by drawing a spider diagram of his ideas.
He writes his topic as a series of ‘key fact cards’.
This is Joe’s first ‘key fact card’.
Key Facts: Sulphuric acid and magnesium
When sulphuric acid reacts with magnesium:
 magnesium fizzes because hydrogen is made
 a salt is formed
 the equation for the reaction is:
magnesium + sulphuric acid  magnesium sulphate + hydrogen
Mg
+
H2SO4
 MgSO4
+ H
+
H2
Task
Write ‘key fact cards’ for each of Joe’s main ideas.
Your cards should include:
 how to test sulphuric acid to show that it is an acid
 what ‘alkali’ means and what happens when sulphuric acid reacts with
sodium hydroxide (an alkali)
 what you see happen when sulphuric acid reacts with calcium carbonate.
Include the test for the gas that is given off in the reaction.
 word equations for all of the reactions you describe.
Mark Scheme
Levels
You should:
4

be able to describe how to test pH


discuss alkalis in terms of substances that react with acids
describe fizzing when sulphuric acid is added to a carbonate.
5



discuss the reactions of sulphuric acid in terms of neutralisation
identify that a salt is made when an acid reacts
state that ‘sulphates’ form when sulphuric acid reacts.
6


describe the test for carbon dioxide
write a complete word equation for the reaction between sulphuric
acid and sodium hydroxide
write a word equation for the reaction between sulphuric acid and
calcium carbonate.
