Question

Write a fully balanced equation for the the reaction that takes place when magnesium is treated with dilute hydrochloric acid.

Answer 1

• Metals react with acids to form hydrogen gas and a metal salt.
• When magnesium is treated with dilute hydrochloric acid, it forms a salt of magnesium chloride and releases hydrogen gas.

Balanced equation:

$$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{Mg}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+2\mathrm{HCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{MgCl}}_2\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right) \\ \mathrm{Magnesium}\mathrm{hydrochloric}\mathrm{magnesium}\mathrm{hydrogen} \\ \mathrm{acid}\mathrm{chloride}\mathrm{gas} \end{gathered}$$