Let's Learn About Chemical Reactions!

What happens when you combine magnesium and oxygen?

A. Mg + O → MgO

B. Mg + O → Mg2O

C. Mg + O → MgO2

D. Mg + O → Mg3O2

Answer:

A. Mg + O → MgO

When magnesium (Mg) reacts with oxygen (O), the correct chemical equation is Mg + O → MgO. This reaction is a combination of magnesium and oxygen to produce magnesium oxide, which is represented by MgO.

Magnesium oxide is a white, powdery compound that forms when magnesium metal is burned in air or oxygen. It is commonly used as a dietary supplement, an antacid to relieve heartburn, and in the production of refractory materials.

In this reaction, the magnesium atoms combine with oxygen atoms to form magnesium oxide through a process of oxidation. This is an example of a synthesis chemical reaction, where two or more substances combine to form a single compound.