Here's what happens:

* Reaction: Zinc (Zn) reacts with hydrochloric acid (HCl) to produce zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) and hydrogen gas (H₂).

* Chemical Equation:

Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq) → ZnCl₂(aq) + H₂(g)

* Observation: You will observe bubbles of hydrogen gas being released and the zinc metal dissolving in the acid. The solution will also become slightly warm due to the exothermic nature of the reaction.

Important Note: This reaction is a single displacement reaction where zinc is more reactive than hydrogen, so it displaces hydrogen from hydrochloric acid.