Final answer:
Element 'X' is most likely a metal as metals react with dilute hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen gas, which is identifiable by its 'pop' sound when ignited. The gas produced from this reaction is hydrogen gas (H2).
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the Reaction of Element 'X' with Dilute Hydrochloric Acid
When an element 'X' is added to dilute hydrochloric acid and produces brisk effervescence of a gas that burns with a 'pop' sound, it indicates a chemical reaction with a few notable characteristics:
a. Element 'X' is a metal or a nonmetal?
From the given information, element 'X' is most likely a metal. This is because nonmetals generally do not react with acids to release hydrogen gas. The reaction described is typical of metals, especially those above hydrogen in the electrochemical series, reacting with hydrochloric acid.
b. Name the gas produced in the above reaction.
The gas produced in the reaction of a metal with dilute hydrochloric acid is hydrogen gas (H2). This gas is identifiable by its characteristic 'pop' sound when ignited, indicating the presence of hydrogen.
For example, iron, zinc, and other metals react with hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen gas and their corresponding metal chlorides, as seen in reactions like Fe(s) + 2HCl(aq) → FeCl2(aq) + H2(g) for iron or Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq) → ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g) for zinc.