Final answer:
The reaction between very dilute nitric acid and magnesium typically results in the formation of nitrous oxide, as the reduction of nitrogen is more likely than the release of hydrogen gas.
Step-by-step explanation:
When very dilute nitric acid reacts with magnesium, which is a strong reducing agent, we don't typically expect the release of hydrogen gas. Instead, we expect the reduction of nitrogen to occur. Given the reactivity of magnesium and the chemical behavior of dilute nitric acid, the expected outcome of their reaction is the formation of nitrous oxide (N2O) rather than hydrogen gas, nitrogen gas, or magnesium oxide.
The natural behavior of nitric acid with metals, including its reaction with more reactive metals like magnesium, does not favor the direct formation of hydrogen gas. The products of such a reaction depend on the concentration of the acid, the reactivity of the metal, and the specific conditions of the reaction, usually leading to different nitrogen oxides or nitrates rather than magnesium oxide.