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Question

How would you balance the following equation: Mg(s)+O2(g)MgO(s)


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Solution

Balancing the Chemical equation:

  • When we balance chemical equations, we want the same number of each sort of atom on both sides of the equation.
  • Only the coefficients are changed. The numbers in front of the molecule are called coefficients.
  • Subscripts should never be changed.
  • Metals must be balanced first, followed by nonmetals such as oxygen and hydrogen.
  • The unbalanced chemical reaction provided is

Mg(s)Magnesium+O2(g)OxygengasMgO(s)Magnesiumoxide

  • It is a combustion and redox process.
Reactant sideProduct side
1 Magnesium atom from Mg1 Magnesium atom from MgO
2 Oxygen atoms from O21 Oxygen atom from MgO
  • As we can see, there are two Oxygen atoms on the left, so we must put 2 on the right side before Magnesium Oxide. Mg(s)Magnesium+O2(g)Oxygengas2MgO(s)Magnesiumoxide
Reactant sideProduct side
1 Magnesium atom from Mg2 Magnesium atoms from MgO
2 Oxygen atoms from O22 Oxygen atoms from MgO
  • Finally, Magnesium must be balanced, in this case, there is one Mg atom on the left and two Mg atoms on the product side, so we put a 2 before Magnesium on the reactant side.; therefore, the equation is now balanced.
Reactant sideProduct side
2 Magnesium atoms from Mg2 Magnesium atoms from MgO
2 Oxygen atoms from O22 Oxygen atoms from MgO
  • Thus, the balanced chemical reaction is:

2Mg(s)Magnesium+O2(g)Oxygengas2MgO(s)Magnesiumoxide


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