Sure, let's break down the process of determining the word equation, skeletal equation, and balanced equation for the reaction between magnesium oxide and water to produce magnesium hydroxide.
### Word Equation
The word equation represents the reactants and products of a chemical reaction in words rather than symbols.
Word Equation:
Magnesium oxide + Water → Magnesium hydroxide
This describes the substances involved in the reaction. Here, magnesium oxide and water react to form magnesium hydroxide.
### Skeletal Equation
The skeletal equation is a representation of the chemical reaction using chemical formulas but without balancing the equation.
Skeletal Equation:
MgO + H₂O → Mg(OH)₂
In this equation:
- MgO is the chemical formula for magnesium oxide.
- H₂O is the chemical formula for water.
- Mg(OH)₂ is the chemical formula for magnesium hydroxide.
### Balanced Equation
To ensure the chemical equation complies with the law of conservation of mass, we need the same number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation. Here, we'll balance the skeletal equation.
Balanced Equation:
MgO + H₂O → Mg(OH)₂
Let's verify the balance:
- On the left side, we have 1 magnesium (Mg), 1 oxygen (O) from MgO, and 2 hydrogen (H) and 1 oxygen (O) from H₂O.
- On the right side, in Mg(OH)₂, we have 1 magnesium (Mg), 2 oxygen (O), and 2 hydrogen (H).
Counting atoms on both sides, we find:
- Magnesium (Mg): 1 (left) = 1 (right)
- Oxygen (O): 1 (from MgO) + 1 (from H₂O) = 2 (right)
- Hydrogen (H): 2 (left) = 2 (right)
Since the count of each type of atom is equal on both sides, the equation is already balanced.
To summarize, we have:
\begin{tabular}{|l|l|}
\hline
Word Equation & Magnesium oxide + Water → Magnesium hydroxide \\
\hline
Skeletal Equation & MgO + H₂O → Mg(OH)₂ \\
\hline
Balanced Equation & MgO + H₂O → Mg(OH)₂ \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
