Question

Complete the following equation:

$\mathrm{Mg}+\mathrm{HCl}\stackrel{}{\to }----$

Answer 1

Reaction of magnesium with hydrochloric acid:

• When magnesium$\left(\mathrm{Mg}\right)$ reacts with hydrochloric acid$\left(\mathrm{HCl}\right)$, it forms magnesium chloride$\left({\mathrm{MgCl}}_2\right)$ and there is the evolution of hydrogen gas$\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\right)$.
• $\underset{\mathrm{magnesium}}{\mathrm{Mg}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{hydrochloric}\mathrm{acid}}{2\mathrm{HCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}\stackrel{}{\to }\underset{\mathrm{magnesium}\mathrm{chloride}}{{\mathrm{MgCl}}_2\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{hydrogen}\mathrm{gas}}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$
• It is a displacement reaction i.e higher reactive element $\left(\mathrm{Mg}\right)$ displaces a less reactive element$\left(\mathrm{H}\right)$ from its compound$\left(\mathrm{HCl}\right)$.