Answer & Explanation:
1. The process that was used in the lab to create MgO:
- Mg is weighed in a crucible and then heated in air that reacts strongly with O₂ to give MgO according to the equation:
Mg + 1/2O₂ → MgO
- and this is confirmed by the increase in mass of Mg in the crucible.
2. The type of the chemical reaction:
- It is considered as an oxidation reaction, thus the magnesium gain O and oxidized to MgO.
3. The reason that the product had a higher mass than the reactant:
- Because the reactant (Mg) bonded to O and forms MgO, so the product had a higher mass due to the gain of O atom over the reactant Mg.
4. The relation to the conversation of matter:
- The law of conversation of matter states that the matter goes not destroyed or created from nothing but it can converted from one form to other.
- Herein Mg and O₂ converted from their atom state to MgO fixing the presence of matter and also the conversation of mass.
- If we have 1.0 mole of Mg will react with 0.5 mole of O₂ to produce 1.0 mole of MgO.
The mass of Mg = n x molar mass of Mg = (1.0 mole) (24.30 g/mol) = 24.3 g.
The mass of O₂ = n x molar mass of O₂ = (0.5 mole) (32.00 g/mole) = 16.0 g.
The mass of MgO = n x molar mass of MgO = (1.0 mole) (40.30 g/mol) = 40.3 g/mol.
- The mass of the reactants = The mass of Mg + The mass of O₂ = 24.3 g + 16.0 g = 40.3 g.
- The mass of the products = The mass of MgO = 40.3 g.
∴ The mass of the reactants = The mass of the products.
So, there is a conversation of matter and mass.
