What will be the result of the reaction MgO(s) + HCl(aq)?

The reaction between magnesium oxide (MgO), a solid, and hydrochloric acid (HCl), which is in aqueous solution, is a neutralization reaction that produces magnesium chloride (MgCl2) and water (H2O).

When magnesium oxide, a basic oxide, reacts with hydrochloric acid, which is an acid, the products formed are a salt (magnesium chloride) and water. This is characteristic of a reaction between a metal oxide and an acid.

In this case, the magnesium ions (Mg²⁺) from magnesium oxide react with chloride ions (Cl⁻) from hydrochloric acid to form magnesium chloride. Simultaneously, the hydroxide ions (OH⁻) from the acid react with the hydrogen ions (H⁺) to form water.

This process can be summarized by the balanced chemical equation:

[ \text{MgO}(s) + 2\text{HCl}(aq) \rightarrow \text{MgCl}_2(aq) + \text{H}_2\text{O}(l) ]

Thus, the correct answer indicates the production of magnesium chloride in aqueous solution and water as a liquid, which aligns with the expected outcome for this type of acid-base