Question

Iqbal treated a lustrous, divalent element M with sodium hydroxide. He observed the formation of bubbles in the reaction mixture. He made the same observations when this element was treated with hydrochloric acid. Suggest how can he identify the produced gas. Write chemical equations for both the reactions.

Answer 1

To identify the produced gas, lighted matchstick should be brought near the gas. If match stick burns with pop sound, it indicates the evolution of Hydrogen gas. 

M+ 2NaOH → Na₂MO₂+ H₂ 

With HCl 

M+ 2HCl  → 2MCl₂+H₂