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Chemical Reactions

Can someone explain to me how to finish writing Chemical Reaction formulas. For example; how to write the products of the reactions.

Magnesium and oxygen (synthesis) yield . . . .

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Answer #1

I dont know how much explaining you need because I dont know how much you know already… but

2Mg (s)+ O2 (g) 2MgO (s)

Ok, so how to know what the product is relates to the amount of electrons

Oxygen has 16 electrons, so it’s missing 2 to become stable (electron in the shells would be 2,8,6), Magnesium has 12 electrons, it has 2 in it’s outer shell (2,8, 2) and needs to lose two to become stable. So you add one Mg to one O atom, and they fit nicely…

Mg + O2 = MgO

now this equation is obviously not balanced, there’s two O atoms on the left and only one on the right, so you put a 2 before the MGO

Mg + O2 = 2MgO

But now you’ve got two Mg atoms on the right, so you just add a 2 to the left

2Mg + O2 = 2MgO

and you have a balanced equation. Honestly, the products will come with more exposure and familiarity… you’ll start to recognize common products. If you send me a couple of more equations I can explain them…

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