Calculate the mass of magnesium oxide MgO that will be obtained by burning 48 grams of magnesium in oxygen.

Magnesium is oxidized very intensively by oxygen. This oxidation reaction is described by the following equation:

Mg + ½ O2 = MgO;

During oxidation, one oxygen atom is attached to the magnesium atom. In this case, one molecule of magnesium oxide is synthesized.

Let’s determine the chemical (molar) amount of magnesium.

To do this, divide the available weight of magnesium by the weight of 1 mole of this substance.

M Mg = 24 grams / mol; N Mg = 48/24 = 2 mol;

During the reaction, the same amount of magnesium oxide will be synthesized.

Let’s calculate its weight.

To do this, we multiply the amount of the substance by the weight of 1 mole of the substance.

M MgO = 24 + 16 = 40 grams / mol; m MgO = 2 x 40 = 80 grams;