Question

Write word equations and then balanced equations for the reaction taking place when (b) Dilute hydrochloric acid reacts with magnesium ribbon.

Answer 1

Reaction of metal with acid:

• When a metal reacts with the acid, it produces a metallic salt and hydrogen gas is liberated.
• The general chemical reaction can be depicted as:

$\mathrm{Metal}+\mathrm{Acid}\to \mathrm{Metallic}\mathrm{salt}+\mathrm{Hydrogen}$

Reaction of Magnesium with hydrochloric acid:

• When hydrochloric acid$\left(\mathrm{HCl}\right)$ reacts with magnesium ribbon$\left(\mathrm{Mg}\right)$, it produces magnesium chloride$\left({\mathrm{MgCl}}_2\right)$ salt and hydrogen gas$\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\right)$ is liberated.
• The word equation can be depicted as:

$\mathrm{Magnesium}+\mathrm{Hydrochloric}\mathrm{acid}\to \mathrm{Magnesium}\mathrm{chloride}+\mathrm{Hydrogen}$

• The chemical reaction can be depicted as:

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