Metal Oxides Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

What is produced when a metal reacts with oxygen?

A metal oxide.
e.g. magnesium + oxygen → magnesium oxide

Why is the reaction of a metal with oxygen classed as oxidation?

Because the metal gains oxygen.

Define oxidation and reduction in terms of oxygen.

Oxidation is the gain of oxygen; reduction is the loss of oxygen.

What is the balanced symbol equation for magnesium burning in oxygen?

$2\mathrm{Mg} + \mathrm{O_2} \rightarrow 2\mathrm{MgO}$

What are the steps to write a balanced symbol equation for a metal reacting with oxygen?

e.g. copper reacting with oxygen

1. Write the word equation: copper + oxygen → copper oxide
2. Write formulae, remembering oxygen is $\mathrm{O_2}$: $\mathrm{Cu} + \mathrm{O_2} \rightarrow \mathrm{CuO}$
3. Balance the atoms: $2\mathrm{Cu} + \mathrm{O_2} \rightarrow 2\mathrm{CuO}$

True or false? In the reaction $2\mathrm{Mg} + \mathrm{O_2} \rightarrow 2\mathrm{MgO}$, the magnesium is reduced.

False. Magnesium gains oxygen, so magnesium is oxidised.