How much oxygen will 4.8 grams of magnesium need?

Metallic magnesium is intensively oxidized by oxygen. The oxidation reaction is described by the following equation:

Mg + ½ O2 = MgO;

In this reaction, 1 oxygen atom is added to 1 magnesium atom and 1 molecule of magnesium oxide is synthesized.

Let’s determine the chemical (molar) 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 = 4.8 / 24 = 0.2 mol;

To burn this amount of magnesium, 2 times less chemical amount of oxygen is required.

Let’s find the volume of the gas. Let’s multiply the volume of gas and the volume of 1 mole, equal to 22.4 liters.

V O2 = 0.2 / 2 x 22.4 = 2.24 liters;