Question

Write out the balanced equation for the reaction that occurs when Mg(OH)2 and HCl react together. You do not need to make your subscripts smaller; just write them out as regular numbers. For example: Mg(OH)2. @vocaloid

Answer 1

This should probably be posted in chemistry...but regardless, just know that for the future

Answer 2

Anyhow, you want to identify what type of a reaction this is first, so you can identify how the reactants need to be rearranged to form the products

Answer 3

no one is in chem rn

Answer 4

From the looks of it, we appear to be dealing with a double-replacement reaction between
\(Mg(OH)_2\) and HCl.

Answer 5

lol, I always check the chem. section. Personally

Answer 6

remember acid + base = salt + water then balance the molecules on each side

Answer 7

but yeah, back to the question. If we have a double-replacement reaction, H will probably form a compound with the OH from the MgOH_2 compound, and Mg will form a compound with Cl.

Answer 8

So based from this, what do you think the products will be? @rebeccaxhawaii

Answer 9

Mg(OH)2 is an base. while HCl is definitely an acid.

^
To clarify

Answer 10

MgCl2 + 2H2O?

Answer 11

Good!

Answer 12

Although, I'm not sure why you added a coefficient to water at this point, lol

Answer 13

Butt yeah, if our equation was unbalanced, it would look like this at this point:

HCl + MG(OH)2 = H2O + MGCl2

Answer 14

so its just H2O + MGCl2?

Answer 15

This is unbalanced. We need to make sure we balance it

Answer 16

and how would that happen

Answer 17

HCl + MG(OH)2 = H2O + MGCl2

Reactants: Products:
*3 H *2 H
*1 Cl *1 O
*1 Mg *1 Mg
*2 O *2 Cl

Answer 18

so if there are these many things on each side, how can we balance it in order to get them even?

Answer 19

hint! The key probably falls upon looking at the Hydrogens and Chlorine

Answer 20

@rebeccaxhawaii any ideas?

Answer 21

this part always confuses me

Answer 22

So let's see what happens if we add a subscript to HCl in the reactants:

2HCl + MG(OH)2 = H2O + MGCl2

Reactants: Products:
*4 H *2 H
*2 Cl *1 O
*1 Mg *1 Mg
*2 O *2 Cl

See how the amount of Cl in the reactants/products is now the same? We're one step away from being balanced

Note how there is 4 H and 2 O in the reactants, and 2 H and 1 O in the products. Therefore, what is the last subscript and where should it go? @rebeccaxhawaii

Answer 23

doubling it

Answer 24

H2O + 2MGCl2?

Answer 25

Ah, not quite! We already have the correct amount of Mg and Cl.

Answer 26

Do you see how there is only 1 O and 2 H in the reactants? we want it to become 2 O and 4 H, just like the reactants. So the 2 coefficient should go in front of H2O.

Does that make sense?

Answer 27

2H2O + MGCl2?

Answer 28

yup!

Answer 29

2HCl + MG(OH)2 = 2H2O + MGCl2

Reactants: Products:
*4 H *4 H
*2 O *2 O
*1 Mg *1 Mg
*2 Cl *2 Cl

Answer 30

Do you see how everything matches? You want to make sure that there is the same amount of reactant and product.

Does this make sense? @rebeccaxhawaii

Answer 31

YAY THANK YOU. can you help with one more?

Answer 32

Unfortunately, I have to go to class right now :/ But if your question is not answered by the time I'm done, I will gladly help you :)