Question
What substance is oxidized in the reaction MgO + Cu → Mg + CuO?
Mg, because it lost electrons
Mg, because it gained electrons
Cu, because it lost electrons
Cu, because it gained electrons
Mg, because it lost electrons
Mg, because it gained electrons
Cu, because it lost electrons
Cu, because it gained electrons
Answers
GPT-4o mini
In the reaction \( \text{MgO} + \text{Cu} \rightarrow \text{Mg} + \text{CuO} \), we need to determine which substance is oxidized.
In this reaction:
- Magnesium oxide (MgO) contains magnesium in the +2 oxidation state and oxygen in the -2 oxidation state.
- Copper (Cu) is in its elemental form (0 oxidation state) and is reduced when it gains electrons.
- Magnesium (Mg) is produced from magnesium oxide, meaning magnesium is reduced in this case (as it goes from +2 in MgO to 0 in elemental Mg).
However, for copper (Cu) to form copper oxide (CuO), it must have been oxidized (it goes from 0 to +2 oxidation state):
- Copper (Cu) loses electrons during this process.
Thus, the correct answer is:
**Cu, because it lost electrons.**
In this reaction:
- Magnesium oxide (MgO) contains magnesium in the +2 oxidation state and oxygen in the -2 oxidation state.
- Copper (Cu) is in its elemental form (0 oxidation state) and is reduced when it gains electrons.
- Magnesium (Mg) is produced from magnesium oxide, meaning magnesium is reduced in this case (as it goes from +2 in MgO to 0 in elemental Mg).
However, for copper (Cu) to form copper oxide (CuO), it must have been oxidized (it goes from 0 to +2 oxidation state):
- Copper (Cu) loses electrons during this process.
Thus, the correct answer is:
**Cu, because it lost electrons.**
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