When magnesium interacts with oxygen, magnesium oxide with a mass of 18.4 was obtained.

When magnesium interacts with oxygen, magnesium oxide with a mass of 18.4 was obtained. Determine what mass of magnesium was taken by the reaction.

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.

Find the chemical amount of magnesium oxide.

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

M MgO = 24 + 16 = 40 grams / mol; N MgO = 16/40 = 0.4 mol;

The same amount of magnesium was taken.

Let’s calculate the weight of magnesium.

M Mg = 24 grams / mol; m Mg = 0.4 x 24 = 9.6 grams;