Hi , I am doing a written science assessment on burning magnesium metal - one of the questions we had to answer was:explain the reaction using the big idea of energy . Would you have any clue what that means ? Thanks x
Certainly! When you are asked to explain the reaction using the "big idea of energy," it means that you should consider how energy is involved in the burning of magnesium.
To answer this question, you can start by explaining the basic principles of energy and how they apply to chemical reactions. There are two main concepts you can discuss:
1. Energy Transformation: In any chemical reaction, including the burning of magnesium, energy is transformed from one form to another. As magnesium metal reacts with oxygen in the air, a chemical reaction occurs, resulting in the formation of magnesium oxide. During this process, chemical bonds are broken and new bonds are formed, which requires energy. In this case, the energy comes from the heat produced by lighting the magnesium strip. It is important to note that while energy is transformed, it is not created or destroyed, according to the law of conservation of energy.
2. Exothermic Reaction: The burning of magnesium is an example of an exothermic reaction, meaning that it releases energy in the form of heat and light as a byproduct. In this exothermic reaction, the energy released is in the form of heat, which is why the burning magnesium strip becomes very hot. The heat released is a result of the chemical reaction being exothermic and the energy released from the breaking and forming of chemical bonds.
In summary, when explaining the reaction using the big idea of energy, emphasize how energy is transformed from one form to another during the burning of magnesium and how the reaction release heat.