State symbols

(S) - Sold

(G) - Gas

 

Metal + oxygen → metal oxide

e.g. Magnesium + oxygen → magnesium oxide

A metal oxide is produced

 

Magnesium reacts with oxygen even when you do not heat it. If you leave magnesium in the air, its surface atoms react with oxygen. This forms a thin layer of magnesium oxide

 

How do other metals react with oxygen?

If you sprinkle zinc powder into a Bunsen flame, you see bright-white sparks. Zinc oxide forms:

There is a similar reaction with iron fillings,the product is iron oxide.

 

Copper doesn't burn in a Bunsen burner flame,instead it forms black copper oxide on its surface.

 

Gold is unreactive.it does not burn.Its surface atoms do not react with oxygen.This explains why gold stays shiny.

 

How do reactions with acids and oxygen compare?

Magnesium reacts vigorously with dilute acids. It also burns in oxygen. Magnesium is a reactive metal. Gold does not react with dilute acids or with oxygen. It is unreactive.

 

There is a pattern. Metals that react vigorously with dilute acids also react vigorously with oxygen. Metals that do not react with dilute acids do not react with oxygen.