Question

Magnesium oxide is produced when magnesium reacts with oxygen. how many grams of magnesium oxide will be produced if 9.85 grams of Magnesium is used?

Answer 1

Start by writing out a balanced chemical equation :) Can you do that?

Answer 2

is it MgO yields Mg + O

Answer 3

the other way around, and does oxygen exist as free atoms or molecules? look up "dioxygen" or oxygen gas.

Answer 4

Okay. But how do I figure out the grams of Magnesium?

Answer 5

what does the question say? i thought we were supposed to find the grams of magnesium oxide?

Answer 6

Thats what i meant sorry

Answer 7

so i would go like this: grams Mg -> mol Mg -> mol MgO -> grams MgO.

we need the balanced equation to make the second conversion. what is it?

Answer 8

im pretty sure its Mg + O ---> MgO

Answer 9

the equation is saying that oxygen exists as a gas of free atoms. is this common?

Answer 10

actually Its 2Mg + O2 ---> 2MgO

Answer 11

and yes it is common

Answer 12

okay, so 2 Mg(s) + O2(g) --> 2 MgO(s)

i would remember that oxygen exists as a gas of O2 molecules, not oxygen atoms. it's not important for this question, but it might come back to haunt us in others.

do you know how to do the conversions then?

Answer 13

i think so

Answer 14

feel free to share the steps and the answer here so other people can verify for you.

Answer 15

first step is to calculate how many moles of magnesium equals 9.85 grams.
You know how to do this?

Answer 16

2 Mg(s) + O2(g) --> 2 MgO(s)
can you tell atomic weight of Mg and molecular weight of Mg O