This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:
S0 + 2 e- → S-II (reduction)
Mg0 - 2 e- → MgII (oxidation)
S is an oxidizing agent, Mg is a reducing agent.
Word equation
magnesium + mixed sulfur → magnesium sulfide
Input interpretation
Mg + S → Mgs
Magnesium mixed sulfur magnesium sulfide
Balanced equation
Balance the chemical equation algebraically:
Mg + S → Mgs
Add stoichiometric coefficients, c, to the reactants and products:
c1Mg + c2S → c3Mgs
Set the number of atoms in the reactants equal to the number of atoms in the products for Mg and S:
Mg: c1 = c3
S: c2 = c3
Since the coefficients are relative quantities and underdetermined, choose a coefficient to set arbitrarily. To keep the coefficients small, the arbitrary value is ordinarily one. For instance, set c1 = 1 and solve the system of equations for the remaining coefficients:
c1 = 1 c2=1
c3 = 1
Substitute the coefficients into the chemical reaction to obtain the balanced equation:
Answer:
Mg + S → Mgs
