Magnesium carbonate + hydrochloric acid = magnesium chloride + water + carbon dioxide

Question

What can you do to get a sample of solid magnesium chloride from the solution?

Answer 1

Here is the balanced equation for the reaction taking place:

MgCO₃(aq) + 2HCl(aq) ==> H₂O(l) + CO₂(g) + MgCl₂(aq)

Take note of the phases for the products.

You have liquid water, carbon dioxide gas and magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) in solution.

To get MgCl₂ as a solid simply warm the sample to eliminate the CO₂ gas and then further to evaporate all of the water. You will be left with MgCl₂ solid.