Question

P + MgSO4 --> Mg+ PSO4
is that true or false?

Answer 1

@Abmon98

Answer 2

Phosphorus cannot displace Magnesium since magnesium is more reactive.
Why have a look at each of their electronic configuration
P-1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p3 (2,8,5)
Mg-1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2 (2,8,2)
Magnesium only has two loosely held electron in its 3s orbital, while phosphurs has a half filled orbitals, so it is much easier to give up their electrons to reach a full shell compared to phosphorus. it takes more energy to remove an electron from a half filled orbital(due to their stability) than Mg electrons. so Mg is more reactive.

Answer 3

phosphorus isn't even on the reactivity series, but still phosphorus is not reactive enough to displace magnesium ions so therefore when you place a phosphorus in magnesium sulfate solution no reaction will occur.

Answer 4

@Abmon98 @asib1214 I did a lab where i mixed plant food (the phosphorus) with epsom salt (MgSO4) and got a precipitate. What ion reacted to precipitate the phosphorus?

Answer 5

were you looking for sulfur in the solution?
Normally when you have a solution and you suspect that there might be an element in the solution and you want to extract it from the solution, what you do is choose an element or a compound that you think precipitate or form (solid) only with that particular element in the solution. If you where looking for sulfur in the solution that's the reason sulfur was given to you because it doesn't react with magnesium but it solidifies when reacted with sulfur so you could easily extract sulfur in the form of Phosphorus sulfide without making multiple precipitates and make a complex mixture.

Answer 6

@asib1214 No I was looking for the phosphorus... It's asking me what I used to react with the phosphorus to make the precipitate

Answer 7

ok wha was given to you???

Answer 8

MgSO4, ammonia, and plant food

Answer 9

@asib1214

Answer 10

what solution did you have????MgSO4? any other?

Answer 11

MgSO4 was actual salt that I mixed with water, I mixed ammonia and plant food together, and then I mixed the salt water and the precipitate liquid @asib1214

Answer 12

ok so you have MgSO4 + (NH4)3PO4 and you are looking for phosphorus...it'll be Magnesium phosphate (solid),

Answer 13

magnesium phosphate will form a precipitate and settles down to the bottom of the beaker the rest will be just suspended in the solution.

Answer 14

thank you!

Answer 15

welcom ^_^