To balance the chemical equation [tex]\( \text{Mg} + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{MgO} \)[/tex], let's follow the steps to ensure the number of each type of atom is the same on both sides of the equation.
1. Identify the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation:
- On the reactant side:
- Magnesium (Mg): 1 atom
- Oxygen (O): 2 atoms (since [tex]\(O_2\)[/tex] is a diatomic molecule)
- On the product side:
- Magnesium (Mg): 1 atom
- Oxygen (O): 1 atom (in [tex]\( \text{MgO} \)[/tex])
2. Balance the magnesium atoms:
Since we have 1 magnesium atom on the product side and 1 on the reactant side, magnesium is already balanced.
3. Balance the oxygen atoms:
Currently, we have 2 oxygen atoms on the reactant side (from [tex]\(O_2\)[/tex]) and only 1 oxygen atom on the product side (in [tex]\( \text{MgO} \)[/tex]). To balance the oxygens, we need 2 oxygens on both sides.
- To do this, we can place a coefficient of 2 in front of [tex]\( \text{MgO} \)[/tex] on the product side:
[tex]\( \text{Mg} + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow 2 \text{MgO} \)[/tex].
4. Balance the magnesium atoms again:
Now, we have 2 magnesium atoms on the product side (because [tex]\(2 \text{MgO}\)[/tex] contains 2 Mg). We need to balance this by placing a coefficient of 2 in front of [tex]\( \text{Mg} \)[/tex] on the reactant side:
[tex]\( 2 \text{Mg} + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow 2 \text{MgO} \)[/tex].
After these steps, we reach the balanced equation:
[tex]\[ 2 \text{Mg} + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow 2 \text{MgO} \][/tex]
Thus, the correct option is:
[tex]\[ 2 \text{Mg} + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow 2 \text{MgO} \][/tex]
