The exact answer to "What is magnesium oxygen balanced?" refers to the balanced chemical equation for the reaction between magnesium and oxygen, which is 2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO.
This equation represents the fundamental principle of the Law of Conservation of Mass, stating that atoms are neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. Therefore, the number of atoms of each element must be equal on both the reactant (starting materials) and product (resulting substances) sides of the equation.
Understanding the Reaction
When magnesium (Mg), a reactive metal, burns in the presence of oxygen (O₂), a gas, it forms magnesium oxide (MgO), a white powder. This process is a classic example of a synthesis reaction.
1. Word Equation:
The reaction can be initially described in words:
Magnesium + Oxygen → Magnesium Oxide
2. Unbalanced Chemical Equation:
Converting the word equation into chemical formulas gives the unbalanced equation:
Mg + O₂ → MgO
Steps to Balance the Equation
Balancing a chemical equation involves adjusting the coefficients (the numbers placed in front of the chemical formulas) to ensure atom conservation.
Let's break down the balancing process for magnesium and oxygen:
| Element | Reactants (Mg + O₂) | Products (MgO) |
|---|---|---|
| Magnesium (Mg) | 1 atom | 1 atom |
| Oxygen (O) | 2 atoms | 1 atom |
As seen from the table, the equation Mg + O₂ → MgO is not balanced because there are two oxygen atoms on the reactant side but only one on the product side.
Step-by-step Balancing:
-
Balance Oxygen Atoms:
- To balance the oxygen atoms, place a coefficient of 2 in front of the magnesium oxide (MgO) on the product side.
Mg + O₂ → 2MgO- Now, let's re-evaluate the atom count:
- Reactants: 1 Mg, 2 O
- Products: 2 Mg, 2 O (from 2MgO)
- Oxygen atoms are now balanced (2 on each side), but magnesium atoms are not (1 on the reactant side, 2 on the product side).
-
Balance Magnesium Atoms:
- To balance the magnesium atoms, place a coefficient of 2 in front of the magnesium (Mg) on the reactant side.
2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO
The Final Balanced Equation
After these steps, the equation is fully balanced:
2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO
| Element | Reactants (2Mg + O₂) | Products (2MgO) | Balanced? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnesium (Mg) | 2 atoms | 2 atoms | Yes |
| Oxygen (O) | 2 atoms | 2 atoms | Yes |
Why is Balancing Important?
- Stoichiometry: A balanced equation is crucial for stoichiometric calculations in chemistry, allowing chemists to predict the exact amounts of reactants needed and products formed in a reaction.
- Safety: Knowing the balanced proportions helps ensure reactions are carried out safely and efficiently, avoiding excess unreacted substances or dangerous byproducts.
- Predicting Yields: It helps in determining the theoretical yield of a product, which is the maximum amount of product that can be formed from given amounts of reactants.
Understanding how to balance chemical equations is a fundamental skill in chemistry, essential for comprehending how chemical reactions occur and interact.
