Question

How is $MgS{{O}_{4}}$ produced from $MgC{{O}_{3}}$?
(A) $MgC{{O}_{3}}$+ S
(B) $MgC{{O}_{3}}$+ $S{{O}_{2}}$
(C) $MgC{{O}_{3}}$+ $S{{O}_{3}}$
(D) $MgC{{O}_{3}}$+ ${{H}_{2}}S{{O}_{4}}$

Answer 1

Hint: Metals, metal oxides, metal carbonate and metal hydroxides react with acids to produce the respective salts. For example, if we want to prepare metal chloride then allow metal, metal oxides, metal carbonate or metal hydroxide to hydrochloric acid. Similarly use sulphuric acid for sulphate yield.

Complete answer:
Magnesium sulphate is a fertilizer, commonly known as Epsom salt. It is a source of magnesium and Sulphur for plants. It can be prepared from the naturally occurring magnesium minerals like Kieserite ($MgS{{O}_{4}}.{{H}_{2}}O$) or epsomite ($MgS{{O}_{4}}.7{{H}_{2}}O$). For industrial production purpose magnesium oxide (MgO), magnesium hydroxide ($Mg{{(OH)}_{2}}$) or magnesium carbonate ($MgC{{O}_{3}}$) are used.
In laboratory, magnesium sulphate can be prepared by direct dissolving magnesium, magnesium oxide (MgO), magnesium hydroxide $Mg{{(OH)}_{2}}$or magnesium carbonate ($MgC{{O}_{3}}$) in dilute sulphuric acid (${{H}_{2}}S{{O}_{4}}$).$MgS{{O}_{4}}.7{{H}_{2}}O$crystallizes the evaporation of the so prepared above solution. On overeating of the crystals of$MgS{{O}_{4}}.7{{H}_{2}}O$the hydrated molecule becomes anhydrous.
Chemical reaction for the preparation of $MgS{{O}_{4}}$ from different compounds are:
From magnesium: $Mg+{{H}_{2}}S{{O}_{4}}\to \text{ }MgS{{O}_{4}}+{{H}_{\begin{matrix}
   2 \\
\end{matrix}}}$
From magnesium oxide: $MgO+{{H}_{2}}S{{O}_{4}}\to \text{ }MgS{{O}_{4}}+{{H}_{2}}O$
From magnesium hydroxide: $Mg{{(OH)}_{2}}+{{H}_{2}}S{{O}_{4}}\to \text{ }MgS{{O}_{4}}+2{{H}_{2}}O$
From magnesium carbonate: $MgC{{O}_{3}}+{{H}_{2}}S{{O}_{4}}\to \ \text{ }MgS{{O}_{4}}+{{H}_{2}}O+C{{O}_{2}}$
Among the given options we just check the reaction of magnesium carbonate to produce magnesium sulphate. So, the option (d) is correct as in it magnesium carbonate is a reaction with sulphuric acid.

Note:
Direct reaction with Sulphur, Sulphur di or tri oxide gases don’t give magnesium sulphate. We need acids to provide the anion of our interest to obtain the desired product. In this case it is magnesium sulphate.