Question

What happens when metals react with oxygen?

Answer 1

• When metals react with oxygen they form metal oxide.
• The nature of metal oxides is basic.
• Let us understand it with an example-

$\underset{\mathrm{Magnesium}}{2\mathrm{Mg}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Oxygen}}{{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}\stackrel{\mathrm{Burning}}{\to }\underset{\mathrm{Magnesium}\mathrm{oxide}}{2\mathrm{MgO}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}$

In the above reaction, magnesium is burning in the air and it reacts with oxygen to form magnesium oxide.