A student heats a piece of magnesium ribbon over a flame, and it begins to burn brightly, forming magnesium oxide (a new substance). Which of the following best describes how the increase in temperature influences this chemical change? * 1 point The increase in temperature slows down the reaction, preventing magnesium from reacting. with oxygen. The increase in temperature provides the energy needed to break chemical bonds in magnesium, allowing it to react with oxygen faster.. The increase in temperature causes a physical change in the magnesium, but no chemical change occurs. The increase in temperature only affects the magnesium's physical state, not its ability to form new substances.

1 answer

The best description of how the increase in temperature influences the chemical change when magnesium burns is:

The increase in temperature provides the energy needed to break chemical bonds in magnesium, allowing it to react with oxygen faster.

This is because the heat from the flame provides the activation energy needed for the magnesium to react with oxygen to form magnesium oxide.