How many atoms of oxygen are there on each side of the chemical equation 2Mg + O_2 -> 2MgO?

1 Answer
Ed Hitchcock
Feb 7, 2016

There are two on each side.

Explanation:

The expression

2Mg + O_2 -> 2MgO

Means

Two atoms of magnesium, plus one oxygen molecule (consisting of two atoms of oxygen) react to become two particles of magnesium oxide, each of which contains an oxygen.

Since the O_2 molecule has two oxygens, and two MgO's each have one oxygen, there are two oxygens on each side.

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