Final answer:
True. Metals can react with acids to produce hydrogen gas and a metal salt, a process typically demonstrated in laboratory settings. Example reactions include iron with hydrochloric acid and zinc with hydrochloric acid.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hydrogen may indeed be produced by reacting metals with acids, and this statement is A. True. When metals react with acids, they typically undergo a displacement reaction where the metal displaces hydrogen from the acid, forming hydrogen gas and a salt. For instance, when iron reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid, the result is hydrogen gas and iron(II) chloride:
Fe(s) + 2H3O+ (aq) + 2Cl(aq) → Fe²+ (aq) + 2Cl(aq) + H₂(g) + 2H2O(l)
Similarly, zinc reacts with hydrochloric acid to produce aqueous zinc chloride and hydrogen gas. This reaction, like others between metals and acids, confirms that hydrogen production is possible through the chemical interaction of acids and metals:
Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq) → ZnCl₂(aq) + H₂(g)
The reaction between metals and acids is a common laboratory method for generating small quantities of hydrogen. However, it is too costly for large-scale industrial hydrogen production, which typically relies on alternative methods such as steam-methane reforming or electrolysis.