Write the balanced chemical equation for the following reaction and identify the type of reaction:
Magnesium(s) + Hydrochloric acid(aq) → Magnesium chloride(aq) + Hydrogen(g)

Open in App

Solution

Magnesium(s) + Hydrochloric acid(aq) → Magnesium chloride(aq) + Hydrogen(g)
1. Balancing steps:
Step 1: Write unbalanced equation.
$Mg + HCl \to MgCl {}_{2} + H {}_{2}$
Step 2: Write down the number of atoms of each elements present on both reactant as well as product side.
Element Reactant side Product side
$Mg$ $1$ $1$
$H$ $1$ $2$
$Cl$ $1$ $2$
Step 3: Add coefficients to balance the number of atoms at both the sides
Balance $H$ and $Cl$ at reactant side by adding $2$ before $HCl$ .
$Mg + 2 HCl \to MgCl {}_{2} + H {}_{2}$
Balanced equation is:
$Mg (s) + 2 HCl (aq) \to MgCl {}_{2}(aq) + H {}_{2}(g)$
Magnesium Hydrochloric acid Magnesium chloride Hydrogen
2. Type of reaction
Combination reaction: Reaction in which two or more reactants combine to form a single product. $A + B \to C$
Decomposition reaction: Reaction in which reactant is broken down into two or more products in the presence of heat, light or electricity. $A \to B + C$
Displacement reaction: Reaction in which one of the higher reactive element displaces less reactive element from its solution. $A + BC \to AC + B$ ( Here A is more reactive than B)
Double displacement reaction: Reaction in which ions of both the reactants interchange their place and form new compounds. $AB + CD \to AD + CB$

$Mg (s) + 2 HCl (aq) \to MgCl {}_{2}(aq) + H {}_{2}(g)$
Here $Mg$ is displacing $H$ from $HCl$ since $Mg$ is more reactive than $H$ .
Reactivity series: $K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Ni > Sn > Pb > H > Cu > Hg > Ag > Au > Pt$

This is a displacement reaction .

Suggest Corrections

Similar questions

\to

\to

\to

\to

\to

M a g n e s i u m_{(a)} + I o d i n e_{(g)} \to M a g n e s i u m i o d i d e_{(s)}

Z i n c_{(s)} + H y d r o c h l o r i c a c i d_{(a q)} \to Z i n c c h l o r i d e_{(a q)} + H y d r o g e n_{(g)}

Join BYJU'S Learning Program