When a magnesium ribbon burns, the reaction is \(2Mg + O_2 \rightarrow 2MgO\). Which statement about this reaction is correct?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: It is a combination reaction because two reactants combine to form a single product.
The governing concept is the classification of reactions by the number and nature of reactants and products. In \(2Mg + O_2 \rightarrow 2MgO\), magnesium and oxygen are two reactants, but they form only one compound, magnesium oxide. Therefore it is a combination reaction. It is not displacement or double displacement because no element or pair of ions is exchanged, and it is not decomposition because no single compound breaks apart.
Frequently asked questions
What is the correct answer to this question?
It is a combination reaction because two reactants combine to form a single product.
Why is this the correct answer?
The governing concept is the classification of reactions by the number and nature of reactants and products. In \(2Mg + O_2 \rightarrow 2MgO\), magnesium and oxygen are two reactants, but they form only one compound, magnesium oxide. Therefore it is a combination reaction. It is not displacement or double displacement because no element or pair of ions is exchanged, and it is not decomposition because no single compound breaks apart.
Which subject and chapter does this question cover?
This is a Class 10 Science question. Chapter: Chemical Substances – Nature and Behaviour. Topic: Chemical Reactions and Equations.
