Which of the following is true for magnesium?

Options

A. It is more electropositive than sodium
B. It is manufactured by electrolysis of aqueous magnesium chloride
C. It is a strong reducing agent
D. It resembles, in chemical properties , with its diagonally placed element boron in 13 group of the periodic table

Answer

To solve the question "Which of the following is true for magnesium?", we will analyze each statement provided and determine its validity step by step.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Evaluate the First Statement**:
- The statement claims that magnesium is more electropositive than sodium.
- **Analysis**: Sodium (Na) is in Group 1 (alkali metals), while magnesium (Mg) is in Group 2 (alkaline earth metals). Electropositivity decreases from left to right across a period. Since sodium requires one electron to achieve a stable configuration and magnesium requires two, sodium is indeed more electropositive than magnesium.
- **Conclusion**: This statement is **incorrect**.

2. **Evaluate the Second Statement**:
- The statement claims that magnesium is manufactured by electrolysis of aqueous magnesium chloride.
- **Analysis**: The correct method for producing magnesium is through the electrolysis of molten magnesium chloride (MgCl2), not aqueous. Aqueous electrolysis would lead to the production of hydrogen gas instead of magnesium.
- **Conclusion**: This statement is **incorrect**.

3. **Evaluate the Third Statement**:
- The statement claims that magnesium is a strong reducing agent.
- **Analysis**: Magnesium is a metal that can lose two electrons to form Mg²⁺, achieving a stable inert gas configuration. The loss of electrons indicates that magnesium can reduce other substances by donating electrons, thus acting as a reducing agent.
- **Conclusion**: This statement is **correct**.

4. **Evaluate the Fourth Statement**:
- The statement claims that magnesium resembles in chemical properties with its diagonally placed element boron in Group 13.
- **Analysis**: While there are some similarities in properties among elements in different groups, magnesium actually shows more resemblance in chemical properties with lithium (from Group 1) than with boron. The diagonal relationship typically applies to beryllium and aluminum rather than magnesium and boron.
- **Conclusion**: This statement is **incorrect**.

### Final Conclusion:
The only true statement about magnesium is that it is a strong reducing agent.