what happens when magnesium reacts with iodine to make magnesium iodide.

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When magnesium reacts with iodine, it forms magnesium iodide. This reaction is a synthesis or combination reaction, where two elements combine to form a compound. The balanced chemical equation for this reaction is:

2 Mg + I2 → 2 MgI2

To understand what happens during this reaction, we need to know that magnesium (Mg) is a metal and iodine (I2) is a halogen. During the reaction, the magnesium atoms lose two electrons each, forming Mg2+ ions. Simultaneously, the iodine molecules gain two electrons each, forming I- ions. These ions then combine to form magnesium iodide (MgI2), which is an ionic compound.

To perform this reaction yourself, here's what you need to do:

1. Start with solid magnesium (Mg) and solid iodine (I2). Make sure both substances are in their pure form.
2. Measure and weigh the appropriate amounts of magnesium and iodine.
3. Place the magnesium and iodine in a reaction vessel, such as a test tube or a beaker.
4. Gently heat the reaction vessel using a Bunsen burner or a hot plate. The heat helps initiate and speed up the reaction.
5. Observe the reaction. Initially, you may notice the formation of a purple vapor, which is iodine gas evaporating. As the reaction progresses, the purple color will disappear and a white solid, magnesium iodide (MgI2), will form.
6. After the reaction is complete, allow the reaction vessel to cool down.
7. Collect and handle the resulting magnesium iodide carefully, as it is a compound with different properties than its constituent elements.

Always exercise caution when performing chemical reactions and ensure you have proper knowledge and supervision.

When magnesium reacts with iodine, they combine to form magnesium iodide according to the chemical equation:

2 Mg + I2 → 2 MgI2

Here is a step-by-step explanation of the reaction:

Step 1: Chemical Equation
The chemical equation representing the reaction between magnesium and iodine is 2 Mg + I2 → 2 MgI2. This equation shows that two magnesium atoms combine with one iodine molecule to form two molecules of magnesium iodide.

Step 2: Reactants
The reactants in this reaction are magnesium (Mg) and iodine (I2). Magnesium is a metal with atomic number 12 and iodine is a non-metal with atomic number 53.

Step 3: Substitution Reaction
The reaction between magnesium and iodine is a substitution reaction. In this type of reaction, one element in a compound is replaced by another element. In this case, an iodine atom is replaced by a magnesium atom to form magnesium iodide.

Step 4: Formation of Magnesium Iodide
When magnesium reacts with iodine, the magnesium atoms lose two outer-shell electrons to form Mg2+ ions. Iodine gains these two electrons to form I^- ions. The two Mg2+ ions and two I^- ions then combine to form two molecules of magnesium iodide (MgI2).

Overall, the reaction between magnesium and iodine results in the formation of magnesium iodide, which is a compound consisting of magnesium cations (Mg2+) and iodide anions (I^-) in a 1:2 ratio.

"Another method to prepare MgI2 is mixing powdered elemental iodine and magnesium metal. In order to obtain anhydrous MgI2 the reaction should be conduct in a strictly anhydrous atmosphere and dry-diethyl ether can be used as a solvent."

from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium_iodide

Also, to know if the reaction is exothermic or endothermic, look up the value of "std enthalpy of formation" at the above link.
A negative value indicates the above reaction is exothermic.