What else is produced during the replacement reaction of magnesium and hydrochloric acid?

[tex]\[ \text{Mg} + 2\text{HCl} \rightarrow \text{H}_2 + \text{MgCl}_2 \][/tex]

A. [tex]\[ \text{Mg}_2\text{Cl}_2 \][/tex]

B. [tex]\[ \text{Mg}_2\text{Cl} \][/tex]

C. [tex]\[ \text{MgCl} \][/tex]

D. [tex]\[ \text{MgCl}_2 \][/tex]



Answer :

Sure, let's examine the replacement reaction between magnesium (Mg) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) step by step. The balanced chemical equation for this reaction is:

[tex]\[ \text{Mg} + 2 \text{HCl} \rightarrow \text{MgCl}_2 + \text{H}_2 \][/tex]

Here is the step-by-step breakdown:

1. Reactants: The reactants are magnesium (Mg) and hydrochloric acid (HCl). You start with 1 mole of magnesium and 2 moles of hydrochloric acid (since HCl appears twice in the equation).

2. Products: The products formed are magnesium chloride (MgCl2) and hydrogen gas (H2).

3. Balancing the Equation: For the reaction to satisfy the law of conservation of mass, the number of each type of atom on the reactants side must equal the number on the products side.

- Magnesium (Mg): 1 atom of Mg on the left side, resulting in 1 atom of Mg on the right side within [tex]\(\text{MgCl}_2\)[/tex].

- Hydrogen (H): 2 atoms of H from the 2 molecules of HCl on the left side of the equation, resulting in 2 atoms of H as part of H2 gas on the right side.

- Chlorine (Cl): 2 atoms of Cl from the 2 molecules of HCl on the left side, which are bonded to Mg forming [tex]\(\text{MgCl}_2\)[/tex] on the right side.

Given this properly balanced equation:

[tex]\[ \text{Mg} + 2 \text{HCl} \rightarrow \text{MgCl}_2 + \text{H}_2 \][/tex]

It shows that the products of the reaction are:

- Magnesium chloride ([tex]\(\text{MgCl}_2\)[/tex])
- Hydrogen gas ([tex]\(\text{H}_2\)[/tex])

Therefore, examining the given options:

1. [tex]\(\text{H}_2\)[/tex] (hydrogen gas)
2. [tex]\(\text{MgCl}_2\)[/tex] (magnesium chloride)
3. [tex]\(\text{Mg}_2\text{Cl}_2\)[/tex] - incorrect, as the correct formula for magnesium chloride is [tex]\(\text{MgCl}_2\)[/tex].
4. [tex]\(\text{Mg}_2\text{Cl}\)[/tex] - incorrect, as this is not a valid chemical compound.
5. [tex]\(\text{MgCl}\)[/tex] - incorrect, as magnesium forms a divalent bond resulting in [tex]\(\text{MgCl}_2\)[/tex].

From this thoroughly balanced and inspected reaction, we confirm that the additional products formed during the replacement reaction of magnesium and hydrochloric acid are:

- Magnesium chloride ([tex]\(\text{MgCl}_2\)[/tex])
- Hydrogen gas ([tex]\(\text{H}_2\)[/tex])