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Look at the reaction below.

[tex]\[ H_2SO_4(aq) + Mg(s) \longrightarrow MgSO_4(aq) + H_2(g) \][/tex]

Which substance is the acid in the reaction?

A. [tex]\( Mg(s) \)[/tex]
B. [tex]\( H_2(g) \)[/tex]
C. [tex]\( MgSO_4(aq) \)[/tex]
D. [tex]\( H_2SO_4(aq) \)[/tex]


Sagot :

To determine which substance is the acid in the reaction, we should first understand the characteristics of acids:

Acids are substances that release hydrogen ions (H⁺) when dissolved in water. For this purpose, we will examine each substance in the reaction to identify the acid:
1. [tex]\( Mg(s) \)[/tex] - Magnesium in its solid form is a metal and does not release hydrogen ions in solution.
2. [tex]\( H_2(g) \)[/tex] - Hydrogen gas is not an acid because it is in its molecular form and does not release hydrogen ions.
3. [tex]\( MgSO_4(aq) \)[/tex] - Magnesium sulfate in aqueous solution is a salt and does not release hydrogen ions.
4. [tex]\( H_2SO_4(aq) \)[/tex] - Sulfuric acid in its aqueous form is a well-known acid that dissociates in water to release hydrogen ions (H⁺).

Since only [tex]\( H_2SO_4(aq) \)[/tex] releases hydrogen ions when dissolved in water, it is the substance that fits the definition of an acid in this reaction.

So, the acid in the reaction is:
[tex]\[ H_2SO_4(aq) \][/tex]

Therefore, the correct choice is the fourth one:
[tex]\[ \boxed{H_2SO_4(aq)} \][/tex]