The purpose of this experiment is to determine how a reaction between an unknown metal and an acid can be used to identify the metal.

Background: 

Metals that have a more negative reduction potential than H+ ions can reduce these ions to H2+. A sample of an unknown metal can be reacted with an acid and the hydrogen formed can be collected.  From the pressure, volume, and temperature, the moles of hydrogen can be calculated using the Ideal Gas Law.  From the amount of hydrogen, and the mass of the unknown metal, a formula weight can be found for the metal based on all three stoichiometric possibilities. Based on these calculations and the physical properties of the metal we can determine its identity.