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Chapter 22: Problem 3

Make a list of physical and chemical properties of chlorine \(\left(\mathrm{Cl}_{2}\right)\) and magnesium. Comment on their differences with reference to the fact that one is a metal and the other is a nonmetal.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Chlorine (\(Cl_2\)) is a yellow-green, pungent, gaseous nonmetal that is a poor conductor but a strong oxidizing agent. Magnesium is a grey, malleable, and ductile metal that is a good conductor and serves as a reducing agent. Chlorine gains electrons whereas magnesium loses electrons during chemical reactions. These characteristics and behaviours stem from one being a non-metal (chlorine) and the other a metal (magnesium).

Step by step solution

01

Identifying the properties of chlorine

Chlorine is a non-metal belonging to group 17 in the Periodic Table. It is yellow-green in color and has a pungent odor. Physically, it is a poor conductor of heat and electricity, and chemically, it is a strong oxidizing agent and can form salts with metals. Chlorine has a high reactivity due to its high electronegativity and its ability to gain an electron to achieve a stable electron configuration.
02

Identifying the properties of magnesium

Magnesium is a metal belonging to group 2 in the Periodic Table. It has a shiny grey color and is a good conductor of heat and electricity. Physically, it is malleable and ductile, and chemically, it is a reducing agent and forms a thin layer of oxide on its surface when exposed to air. Magnesium has a relatively low electronegativity and prefers to lose two electrons to achieve stability.
03

Comparing the properties and commenting on the differences

There are several crucial differences between chlorine and magnesium both physically and chemically. Chlorine is a gas at room temperature while magnesium is a solid. Magnesium, being a metal, is more malleable and ductile than chlorine. Chemically, chlorine gains electrons to form anions whereas magnesium loses electrons to form cations during chemical reactions. These differences result from one being a non-metal (chlorine) and the other being a metal (magnesium). The behaviours are reflective of the metallic and non-metallic nature of these elements.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Iodine pentoxide, \(\mathrm{I}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{5}\), is sometimes used to remove carbon monoxide from the air by forming carbon dioxide and iodine. Write a balanced equation for this reaction and identify species that are oxidized and reduced.

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The bad smell of water containing hydrogen sulfide can be removed by the action of chlorine. The reaction is $$\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{~S}(a q)+\mathrm{Cl}_{2}(a q) \longrightarrow 2 \mathrm{HCl}(a q)+\mathrm{S}(s)$$ If the hydrogen sulfide content of contaminated water is 22 ppm by mass, calculate the amount of \(\mathrm{Cl}_{2}\) (in grams) required to remove all the \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{~S}\) from \(2.0 \times 10^{2}\) gallons of water. ( 1 gallon \(=3.785\) L.)
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