This question arose when dealing with a long exact sequence of Tor.
Let $R$ be a (not necessarily commutative) ring, $g$ a central element of $R$ and $M$ a right $R$-module. We have an exact sequence of left $R$-modules $$ 0 \rightarrow Rg \rightarrow R \rightarrow R/Rg \rightarrow 0.$$ Tensoring with a right $R$-module $M$ and using that $\text{Tor}_R^1(M,R)=0$, we obtain an exact sequence $$0 \rightarrow \text{Tor}_R^1(M,R/Rg) \rightarrow M \otimes_R Rg \rightarrow M \otimes_R R \rightarrow M \otimes_R R/Rg \rightarrow 0.$$ I want to identify $\text{Tor}_R^1(M,R/Rg)$. I'm under the impression that $ M \otimes_R R \cong M$ and $M \otimes_R R/Rg \cong M/Mg$ (although now I'm doubting these facts too).
My question is: is $M \otimes_R Rg \cong Mg$?
I've done the following (with most of my working omitted): we can define an $R$-biadditive map $\overline{\phi}:M \times Rg \rightarrow Mg$ by $(m,rg) \mapsto mrg$, and so this factors through to give a map $\phi: M \otimes_R Rg \rightarrow Mg$, $m \otimes rg \mapsto mrg$. The map $\psi : Mg \rightarrow M \otimes_R Rg, mg \mapsto m\otimes g$ is then inverse to $\phi$.
However, I'm told that $\text{Tor}_R^1(M,R/Rg) \neq 0$, and if $M \otimes_R Rg \cong Mg$, then the form of the exact sequence involving Tor implies that $\text{Tor}_R^1(M,R/Rg) = 0$.
You have perfectly defined the map $\phi$ however, the map $\psi$ is not well defined. What happen if $mg=m'g$, or equivalently, if $(m-m')g=0$ ? do we necessarily have $(m-m')\otimes g=0$ in $M\otimes_R Rg$ ?
Take $R=\mathbb{Z}, g=2$ and $M=\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}$. Then $2\mathbb{Z}\simeq\mathbb{Z}$ so that $M\otimes 2\mathbb{Z}\simeq M$. However, $M.2=0$. The thing is $1.g=0$ in $M.2$ but $1\otimes 2\neq 0$ in $M\otimes 2\mathbb{Z}$.
The $Tor$ is precisely the difference between $Mg=\mathop{Im}\phi$ and $M\otimes_R Rg$.