What is produced when hydrochloric acid and magnesium combine?

When hydrochloric acid (HCl) reacts with magnesium (Mg), a chemical reaction occurs that produces magnesium chloride (MgCl2) along with hydrogen gas (H2). In this reaction, magnesium displaces hydrogen from hydrochloric acid, leading to the formation of magnesium chloride in solution.

The reaction can be summarized by the following equation:

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

This equation illustrates how magnesium combines with hydrochloric acid, resulting in magnesium chloride, which is a soluble salt in water, and hydrogen gas that is released as bubbles.

Understanding this reaction helps to grasp fundamental concepts of acid-metal reactions, where a metal reacts with an acid to produce salt and hydrogen. Magnesium chloride being an ionic compound formed from magnesium ions and chloride ions showcases the typical products of such reactions in chemistry.