Question

When magnesium ribbon burns in air or oxygen, a product is formed. State the type of chemical reaction and name the product formed in the reaction. Write the balanced chemical equation of this reaction.

Answer 1

When any substance is burned in the presence of atmospheric oxygen, oxidation takes place and oxide formation occurs. Same happens in the case of magnesium, when magnesium is burned in atmospheric oxygen, oxidation of magnesium occurs and the formation of magnesium oxide takes place.

Complete step by step answer:
Oxidation reactions refer to the reactions that lead to the formation of oxides.
The alloys of magnesium and itself magnesium are explosive hazards. They seem to be highly flammable in their pure form.
Burning magnesium produces white light and while working with powdered magnesium safety glasses are employed because it produces white light that contains ultraviolet radiations which can affect eyes.
Magnesium in its metal form readily burns in air. However, in order to initiate the reaction some amount of energy is required. The flame provides that energy to the metal.
When magnesium ribbon burns in oxygen, magnesium oxide is formed with the production of dazzling white light. After it burns, the white powder of magnesium oxide gets formed. Burning of magnesium is an exothermic process. An exothermic process is the one in which there is a net release of energy. Similarly, the reaction of magnesium with oxygen produces heat resulting in an exothermic process.
Magnesium gives up two electrons to oxygen atoms, resulting in the oxidation of magnesium to form the powdery product as magnesium oxide.
The reaction of magnesium with oxygen can be written as:
$2Mg\left( s \right) + {O_2}\left( g \right) \to 2MgO\left( s \right) + \operatorname{energy}$

(A). Therefore, the given reaction is a combination as well as an oxidation reaction.
(B). The product formed in this reaction is magnesium oxide.

So, the correct answer is Option C.

Note: $Mg\left( s \right) + C{O_2} \to 2MgO\left( s \right) + C\left( s \right)$ .