I am on a question which says "Explain what happens when magnesium burns"! I need help and my science book is rubbish! Please help me!
2007-01-16 03:27:49 · 6 answers · asked by .:Tenten:. 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Magnesium is an alkaline earth element and is very reactive.
When it burns ,it reacts with oxygen in air.
Reaction:
2Mg + O2 ==> 2MgO
A lot of heat is generated almost instantaneously, that is why there is a blinding spark when you burn a magnesium ribbon.
After it burns completely you will get a white powder which is nothing but Magnesium Oxide!
I am not accounting the reaction of magnesium with the nitrogen present in air.
3Mg + N2 = Mg3N2
This reaction also occurs as a side reaction .
2007-01-16 03:33:00 · answer #1 · answered by Som™ 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The magnesium combines with the oxygen in the air to form mangesium oxide
2Mg + 02 ---> 2MgO.
The magnesium oxide was the white powder left behind.
2007-01-16 11:34:22 · answer #2 · answered by The Cheminator 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You get a white-hot flame as magnesium ribbon combines with air oxygen to give a white powder of magnesium oxide.
Mg + O2 ===> MgO
The flame is so hot that it causes the magnesium to combine with nitrogen in the air to give black specks of magnesium nitride in the white powder.
3Mg + N2 ===> Mg3N2
If you're doing an experiment in which you weigh the amount of MgO afterwards, you have to add water to the white powder to convert magnesium nitride to magnesium oxide and ammonia (which passes into the atmosphere).
Mg3N2 + 3H2O ===> 3MgO + 2NH3
Then you heat the product strongly to drive out the excess water and dry the white powder.
2007-01-16 11:36:46 · answer #3 · answered by steve_geo1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The equation is:
2Mg + 02 -> 2MgO
Can't use proper subscripts but oh well...
You need to say something like "When it collides with an oxygen molecule, the magnesium atom loses two electrons to one of the atoms. The covalent bond between the two oxygen atoms breaks, and solid MgO forms. The second atom can also collide with a Mg atom."
2007-01-16 11:37:18 · answer #4 · answered by draco_mortifer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Magnesium can burn, explosively in enough quantity, in the presence of water to form Mg(OH)2 and hydrogen gas, which is also explosive.
The light from the reaction can also blind.
Be careful.
2007-01-16 11:35:39 · answer #5 · answered by gebobs 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am sorry I am getting old and I have forgot but maybe this will help. There are several levels of oxidation even to magnesium pent oxide.
2007-01-16 11:36:29 · answer #6 · answered by JOHNNIE B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋