Question

Magnesium metal reacts with gaseous oxygen in a combination reaction. Write a balanced equation to describe this reaction. Include states of matter in your answer. Click in the answer box to open the symbol palette.

Answer 1

Answer: 2Mg (s) + O2 (g) ----> 2MgO (s)

Explanation:

Lets write the equation of the reaction.

Mg(s) + O2 (g) ----> MgO (s)

Counting the number of atoms for each element we have:

Left hand side: Mg =1 O = 2

Right hand side : Mg = 1, O =2

To balance this equation input "2" as coefficient for "MgO" on the right hand side and "2", as coefficient for "Mg" on the left hand side of the equation. Hence our balanced equation will be

2Mg (s) + O2 (g) -----> 2MgO (s)