Question

How do you write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction of magnesium solid with sulfuric acid to form hydrogen gas and magnesium sulfate?

Answer 1

`Mg + H_2SO_4->MgSO_4 +H_2`

Explanation:

Magnesium combined with sulfuric acid produces magnesium sulfate and hydrogen gas.

Reactants:

The symbol for magnesium is `Mg`.

The formula for sulfuric acid is `H_2SO_4`

Products:

Magnesium forms a `2+` ion: `Mg^(2+)`

The sulfate ion has a charge of `2-`: `SO_4^(2-)`

The charges balance and thus the formula for
magnesum sulfate is `MgSO_4`

Hydrogen gas is diatomic: `H_2`

`Mg + H_2SO_4->MgSO_4 +H_2`

The reaction is balanced as written. Each side has one magnesium atom, two hydrogen atoms and one sulfate ion.