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

the electronic configuration of an atom with eight electrons is 1s²2s²2p⁴. the orbital diagrams are shown in the figure.

as per the hunds rule:

1. electrons tend to avoid being in the same orbital as per as practicable.

2. electrons in different orbitals of the same energy will have their spin parallel.

this can be illustrated from the multiplicity of the orbitals of the atom. as there are four electrons in the p orbital and p orbital has 3 sub-shells. the electrons can be fed in different ways as shown in the figure but the correct orbital diagram will be as per the hunds rule.

the temperature of the gas, in k, not celsius.