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Reaction 1: Magnesium plus hydrochloric acid

Properties of the Original Substances: A small piece of a silvery metal (magnesium) and a container of clear hydrochloric acid.

Properties of Products: Small bubbles are seen accumulating on the metal strip.

Was this a chemical or physical reaction? How do you know?

3 answers

The reaction between magnesium and hydrochloric acid is a chemical reaction. This can be determined by the following observations and reasoning:

  1. Formation of Bubbles: The accumulation of small bubbles on the metal strip indicates the production of a gas. In this case, when magnesium reacts with hydrochloric acid, hydrogen gas is formed. The evolution of gas is a common sign of a chemical reaction.

  2. Change in Substances: In a chemical reaction, the original substances (reactants) undergo a transformation to form new substances (products). In this reaction, magnesium reacts with hydrochloric acid to produce magnesium chloride and hydrogen gas, signifying that a new substance has been formed.

  3. Change in Properties: The properties of the reactants (magnesium and hydrochloric acid) differ from the properties of the products (magnesium chloride and hydrogen gas). This change indicates that a chemical reaction has taken place.

Overall, the evidence of gas evolution, the change in substances, and the change in properties all confirm that this is a chemical reaction.

Make it in 1-2 sentences

The reaction between magnesium and hydrochloric acid is a chemical reaction, evidenced by the formation of bubbles due to hydrogen gas evolution and the transformation of the reactants into new substances (magnesium chloride and hydrogen gas). The observable changes indicate that a chemical change has occurred.