Question

1. balance the following chemical equation and choose the correct answer below. mg + o₂ → mgo options: mg+o₂ → 3mgo; 4mg+o₂ → mgo; 3mg+o₂ → 5mgo; 2mg+o₂ → 2mgo

Explanation:

Step1: Recall the law of conservation of mass

In a balanced chemical equation, the number of atoms of each element on the reactant side must equal the number of atoms of the same element on the product side. For the reaction of magnesium ($Mg$) and oxygen ($O_2$) to form magnesium - oxide ($MgO$), we need to balance the equation.
The un - balanced equation is $Mg + O_2
ightarrow MgO$.

Step2: Balance oxygen atoms first

Oxygen is diatomic ($O_2$) on the reactant side. To balance the oxygen atoms, we need to put a coefficient of 2 in front of $MgO$ on the product side. So the equation becomes $Mg+O_2
ightarrow 2MgO$.

Step3: Balance magnesium atoms

Now, on the product side, we have 2 magnesium atoms in $2MgO$. So we put a coefficient of 2 in front of $Mg$ on the reactant side. The balanced equation is $2Mg + O_2
ightarrow 2MgO$.

Answer:

$2Mg + O_2
ightarrow 2MgO$