select the correct answer. two beakers are on a laboratory bench. one beaker contains 1.0 m hcl and the…

select the correct answer. two beakers are on a laboratory bench. one beaker contains 1.0 m hcl and the other contains tap water. what could an experimenter do to distinguish the acid solution from the tap water? a. drop a piece of magnesium in each solution. b. drop a piece of copper in each solution. c. dip a piece of red litmus paper in each solution. d. smell the two solutions.

select the correct answer. two beakers are on a laboratory bench. one beaker contains 1.0 m hcl and the other contains tap water. what could an experimenter do to distinguish the acid solution from the tap water? a. drop a piece of magnesium in each solution. b. drop a piece of copper in each solution. c. dip a piece of red litmus paper in each solution. d. smell the two solutions.

Answer

Brief Explanations:

  1. Option A: Magnesium reacts with HCl to produce hydrogen gas ($Mg + 2HCl=MgCl_2 + H_2\uparrow$), showing bubbling. It has no reaction with water under normal - conditions, so this can distinguish them.
  2. Option B: Copper is less reactive than hydrogen in the metal - activity series and does not react with either HCl or water under normal conditions, so it cannot distinguish them.
  3. Option C: Red litmus paper does not change color in an acidic solution (HCl) or neutral water, so it cannot distinguish them.
  4. Option D: Both HCl solution and tap water are odorless in the given context, so this cannot distinguish them.

Answer:

A. Drop a piece of magnesium in each solution.