Sometimes, simple chemical reactions can provide information about the composition of a substance. For example, suppose you have an unidentified alkaline earth metal. You know that the metal is either magnesium, calcium, or barium. When you combine this metal with hydrochloric acid, it produces hydrogen gas plus an ionic compound composed of the metal cation and chloride anions. Write three balanced equations showing each of these possible reactions.
magnesium reaction: \( \square \)
calcium reaction: \( \square \)
barium reaction: \( \square \)
Classify these reactions as decomposition, synthesis, single-displacement, or double-displacement reactions.
synthesis (combination)
single-displacement
double-displacement
decomposition