Why is magnesium heavier when in burns?

Question

I know that there is a chemical reaction and that fire leaves a substance on magnesium when its done burning. Is that substance oxygen? or soemthing else. Only answer if you really know it, this is for a lab experiment at school. thank you.

Answer 1

If any substance is left after burning, it's carbon. When you burn things and see black stuff, it's carbon.

Answer 2

Burning is the process of any chemical reacting and forming bonds with oxygen. When magnesium burns, it bonds to oxygen, increasing the mass. The magnesium doesn't get heavier, it's just that you are now weighing MgO instead of Mg

Answer 3

When magnesium burns it combines with oxygen to make magnesium oxide, a white powder.

2Mg + O2 ---->2MgO

This is a chemical reaction and the magnesium oxide is heavier than just magnesium. Oxygen comes from the air.

Answer 4

2Mg + O2 --> 2 MgO

This equation represents what is going on. Magnesium is very light before the reaction (burning). It takes on Oxygen from the air, and its weight increases remarkably as a result. Now this ash thats left can get even heavier. Moisture in the air can react with it gradually to convert it to Magnesium Hydroxide:

MgO + H2O --> Mg(OH)2

If you weigh your sample right after burning, you will get the weight of pure MgO

Left in the air, the weight will gradually increase as water is taken in.

Answer 5

Magnesium oxide is formed .Addition of the oxygen atom makes the magnesium heavier.

Answer 6

same reason that burning coal creates 3lbs of co2 per lb of coal burned, except that with magnesiom its mo2, magnesium oxide that is the end product.

Answer 7

product is Mgo