Balance the following the chemical equation:

Question

___MG+____O2→____MgO

Answer 1

To balance the chemical equation for the reaction of magnesium and oxygen to form magnesium oxide, follow these steps:

1. Write the unbalanced equation: \[ \text{Mg} + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{MgO} \]

2. Count the number of each type of atom on both sides:

   • Reactants: 1 Mg, 2 O (from O₂)
   • Products: 1 Mg, 1 O (from MgO)

3. Balance the oxygen atoms: Since there are 2 oxygen atoms on the reactant side and only 1 on the product side, you'll need 2 magnesium oxide (MgO) molecules: \[ \text{Mg} + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow 2 \text{MgO} \]

4. Update the counts:

   • Reactants: 1 Mg, 2 O
   • Products: 2 Mg, 2 O (from 2 MgO)

5. Balance the magnesium atoms: Now you have 2 magnesium atoms in the products. To balance the magnesium, put a coefficient of 2 in front of Mg: \[ 2 \text{Mg} + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow 2 \text{MgO} \]

6. Final check:

   • Reactants: 2 Mg, 2 O
   • Products: 2 Mg, 2 O

Now the equation is balanced.

The balanced equation is: \[ \boxed{2 \text{Mg} + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow 2 \text{MgO}} \]