Read the following chemical equation.

mg(s) + h+ cl− → mg2+ cl− + h2

what most likely happens during this reaction?
magnesium gains two electrons.
magnesium loses two electrons.
chlorine gains one electron.
chlorine loses one electron.

Answer

Hi,

In this equation, i see we have two answers;

B. Magnesium loses two electrons

C. Chlorine gains one electron

Explanation

Due to their valences, Magnesium,Mg+2 and Chlorine -1, magnesium atom will loose two electrons to form a stable state 2+ ions.Chlorine as a member of group 7 elements of the periodic table, the chlorine atom will gain 1 electron to form a stable 1- ion and facilitate the formation of the ionic bond that occurs between the two elements.

Magnesium loses two electrons

Step-by-step explanation:

The balanced equation is  

Mg + 2H⁺ + 2Cl⁻ ⟶ Mg²⁺ + 2Cl⁻ + H₂

Mg loses two electrons because it becomes Mg²⁺:

Mg ⟶Mg²⁺ + 2e⁻

C and D are both wrong, because Cl⁻ neither gains nor loses electrons. It is Cl⁻ at the beginning and Cl⁻ at the end of the reaction, so it is a spectator ion.

The substance that gains electrons is H⁺:

2H⁺ + 2e⁻ ⟶ H₂

- calcium has greater affinity to bond with electron receptors than hydrogen does and hence, it has the ability to replace hydrogen in most of its compounds.

- lithium has 2 valence electrons in the product because it can make only 1 bond with hydrogen. beryllium has 4 valence electrons in the product because it can only make 2 bonds. it has fewer electrons than neon and can react with electron donors. each hydrogen has 2 valence electrons, the same as helium.

- the covalent bond formed between carbon and hydrogen is polar because carbon is more electronegative than hydrogen and it attracts the bonded electron pair closer to itself, thus giving hydrogen a partial positive charge.

- a hydrogen bond is a relatively weak bond that hydrogen atoms make with the electronegative atoms nitrogen, oxygen or fluorine.

so the best choice is a.) 2 calcium (ca) atoms