Would silver react with hydrochloric acid? why or why not?

Question

Would silver react with hydrochloric acid? why or why not?

Answer 1

No. Only metals with a reduction potential lower than that of hydrogen gas will react with H+. If you look at silver, it is way above hydrogen, so no reaction will occur. In acids containing far stronger oxidizing agents, such as nitric acid, however, silver will dissolve.

Edit: And why did I receive two thumbs-down? My answer is correct, and illustrates the technique you _should_ be using to find the answer to such a question.

Ag+(aq) + e- -----> Ag(s) +0.80 V

2H+(aq) + 2e- -----> H2(g) +0.00 V

Answer 2

Silver is below hydrogen in the Reactivity Series and so will not displace hydrogen from an acid.

It will, however, react with nitric acid (a powerful oxidising agent) forming a solution of silver nitrate and oxides of nitrogen.

Answer 3

No, because the reaction Ag  -> Ag+ + e- has a lower reduction potential than the reaction 2H+ + 2e- -> H2. So the reaction 2Ag + 2H+  ->  2Ag+ + H2 will not happen.(The H+ is from the dissosiation of HCl in water).

Answer 4

yup... it reacts with acids.... just not the one you mentioned! lol

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Ag cannot displace H in HCl ; HCl is not strong enough acid

but it reacts with concentrated nitric acid, as well as with concentrated sulfuric acid.

like this:

HNO3 + Ag = AgNO3 + H2O + NO

H2SO4 + Ag = Ag2SO4 + H2O + SO2

(so you can get an idea about what happens in there...)

.. now all you have to do is.. balance out coeficients! gl.