The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
-----

Mg and HCl reactions (using sodium chloride)

 

My school project at the moments is mg and hcl...... the reaction between mg and HCl is exothermic due to this should I do my experiment in the lab in a ice bath. Also could you give me some info on what chlorine ions- (sodium chloride) have on the rate of reaction.

Thanks,

Jaimeyn Savage
- Tunbrigde Wells, East Sussex, England

---

 

Jaimeyn,

Without knowing what experiment you are doing I can only make some general statements. Mg and HCl do react exothermically, and in fact the HCl should attach the Mg to produce MgCl2 and H gas. MgCl2 has a noble gas electron configuration and should be quite stable. The fact that the reaction produces heat is not likely to be a problem and you would not be able to stop it with an ice bath (or anything else) anyway. Most acids attack Mg vigorously, but there are some exceptions (HF for example,HCl may also be one). Most salts will cause corrosion of Mg, although some of the alloys will be more resistant than others. I am not sure what you mean by the last sentence, but chorine ions will have everything to do with the rate of the first reaction (Mg-HCl) because the will be responsible for any reaction you observe.

Kevin Hobbs
- Norman, Oklahoma