Zinc- Zinc is an essential mineral. It is a chemical element with the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is a metal and it can be used to boost the immune system
Hydrochloric Acid- Hydrochloric acid is a corrosive, strong mineral acid with many industrial uses. It is made up of hydrogen and chlorine, both of which are elements on the periodic table. When it reacts with an organic base, it turns into hydrochloric salt.
When the zinc and hydrochloric acid are combined, they form hydrogen gas. The gas molecules collide with the walls of the balloon, causing pressure, which causes the balloon to inflate. Hydrogen gas is also extremely flammable, and when the flame is held up to the balloon, it causes that intense explosion from the reaction with oxygen in the air.
The definition of single replacement reaction is when one element replaces another element in a compound. Zinc metal displaces the hydrogen to form hydrogen gas and zinc chloride, a salt. As shown in the picture below, zinc metal takes the place of A, hydrogen represents B and chlorine represents C. These letters that are represented end up changed, which cause the single replacement reaction. We know this isn't double replacement because only one element being replaced, making it a single replacement reaction.
The definition of an exothermic reaction is that more bonds are formed than broken. This means that more energy is being released than put in. That output of energy shows that it is exothermic because the temperature increases. The energy is being as released as heat. In an exothermic reaction "energy is usually released as heat" (Pearson 168) which is another way we know that the experiment is an exothermic reaction
To test if it was an acid or base we had to use HCL otherwise known as Hydrochloric Acid. We took a piece of blue litmus paper and dipped it into the HCl. The paper turned red which meant that it is an acid. Then to make sure that it was true, we dipped the red litmus paper and it stayed red, confirming that it is an acid. We also know that it is an acid because it reacts with metal and zinc is a metal.