Chapter 19, Problem 15STP

To determine

To write: The chemical equation for the reaction and balance it.

Answer to Problem 15STP

The balanced chemical reaction between the magnesium and oxygen is

  $\text{2Mg}\left(\text{s}\right){\text{+O}}_{\text{2}}\left(\text{g}\right)\to \text{2MgO}$

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

Generally, when metals are reacting with the oxygen then they form the metal oxides and magnesium is a metal thus, after reaction with oxygen magnesium oxide will form.

When magnesium reacts with the diatomic oxygen then its chemical reaction is written as,

  $\text{Mg}\left(\text{s}\right){\text{+O}}_{\text{2}}\left(\text{g}\right)\to \text{MgO}$

This is an oxidation reaction.

In the above reaction, there is 1 Mg atom on left side and 1 Mg atom on product side or right side. Also, there are 2 O atoms on left and 1 O atom on right.

Give coefficient 2 to MgO on product side to balance the oxygen atoms and coefficient 2 to Mg on left side to get equal number of Mg on both side of the reaction.

The balanced chemical equation will be:

  $\text{2Mg}\left(\text{s}\right){\text{+O}}_{\text{2}}\left(\text{g}\right)\to 2\text{MgO}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)$

Conclusion:

Thus, the chemical reaction between the magnesium and oxygen is balanced.