Question

How can the following be converted into the respective chlorides?

(a) Magnesium

Give the balanced chemical equation.

Answer 1

Reaction of metals and acid

• A salt and hydrogen gas are produced when an acid undergoes a chemical reaction with a metal.
• When magnesium metal $\left(\mathrm{Mg}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)\right)$ reacts with hydrochloric acid $\left(\mathrm{HCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\right)$, then formation of magnesium chloride $\left({\mathrm{MgCl}}_2\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\right)$ and hydrogen gas $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\right)$ is observed.

Chemical Reaction

• The balanced chemical equation is as follows:

$\mathrm{Mg}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+2\mathrm{HCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{MgCl}}_2\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$