Mg + Cl2 redox reaction explain?

Question

What is the substance being reduced and oxidised? What are the reducing and oxidising agents?

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Answer 1 · 2016-12-01T20:12:30

$M g (s) + C l_{2} (g) \to M g C l_{2} (s)$ $Mg(s) + Cl_2(g) rarr MgCl_2(s)$

The metal loses electrons, and in forming $M g^{2 +}$ $Mg^(2+)$ it loses 2 electrons and is oxidized:

$M g (s) \to M g^{2 +} + 2 e^{-}$ $Mg(s) rarr Mg^(2+) + 2e^-$ $(i)$ $(i)$

And on the other hand chlorine is reduced to chloride ion by accepting electrons:

$C l_{2} (g) + 2 e^{-} \to 2 C l^{-}$ $Cl_2(g) +2e^(-) rarr 2Cl^(-)$ $(i i)$ $(ii)$

And $(i) + (i i) =$ $(i) + (ii)=$ $M g (s) + C l_{2} (g) \to M g C l_{2} (s)$ $Mg(s) + Cl_2(g) rarr MgCl_2(s)$

Both charge and mass are balanced, as required.