[funsize]

I did a kjeldahl distillation to determine the ammonia content of tetraamine copper(II) sulphate and the method I used included the addition of zinc granules to the distillation flask. I've had one lab demonstrator tell me that the zinc liberates the ammonia for distillation by a metal displacement reaction and I've had another tell me that the zinc reacts with the caustic in the distillation flask to produce hydrogen as an antibumping mechanism! I'm confused as to which explanation is correct ( I dont really understand how zinc could react with caustic to produce hydrogen)
please *delete me*

[Borek]

Zinc is amphoteric.

[funsize]

does that mean it will produce a gas when placed in caustic solution? does it have any other role?

cheers