Calculate the mass of magnesium oxide that forms when 12 g of magnesium reacts with oxygen.

Metallic magnesium is intensively oxidized by oxygen. The reaction is described by the following chemical reaction 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 find the chemical amount of magnesium.

Divide the available weight of magnesium by the weight of 1 mole of this substance.

M Mg = 24 grams / mol; N Mg = 12/24 = 0.5 mol;

When this reaction proceeds, the same amount of magnesium oxide will be synthesized.

Let’s determine its weight.

Let’s multiply the molar amount of the substance and the weight of 1 mole of the substance.

M MgO = 24 + 16 = 40 grams / mol; m MgO = 0.5 x 40 = 20 grams;