Give the missing product Mg + Fe1Cl3 ---> Fe + _?_

The missing product : MgCl₂

Given

The reaction between Mg and FeCl₃

Required

The missing product

Solution

This reaction is a single replacement reaction

Occurs when one element replaces another element in the compound. The more active element will replace the less active element. The activity of this element can be seen from the voltaic series

Li-K-Ba-Ca-Na-Mg-Al-Mn- (H2O) -Zn-Cr-Fe-Cd-Co-Ni-Sn-Pb- (H) -Cu-Hg-Ag-Pt-Au

Mg is located to the left of Fe in the voltaic series so that it can replace Fe from its compound

General formula :

A + BC ⇒ AC + B

So the reaction :

3Mg + 2FeCl₃ → 2Fe + 3MgCl₂

the old alchemists made significant contributions to science even though there starting premises were off a bit. their conclusions after failure would steer them into better directions for investigation. science is no more than close observation and the initial mistakes result in rethinking and retrying experiments.