Answer:
In the previous chapter, we learnt how to write and balance equations. The three examples we learnt about were:
magnesium + oxygen → magnesium oxide
iron + oxygen → iron oxide
copper + oxygen → copper oxide
Which groups do magnesium, iron and copper come from?
In these reactions, the elements that react with oxygen are all metals. If you are not convinced of this, find them on the Periodic Table below in the front of your book. Can you see that they are all found in the region occupied by the metals? Where are metals located on the Periodic Table?
The names of the products of the three reactions above have something in common. Write down the names. Can you see what they have in common?
The products are all metal oxides. What exactly are metal oxides? As we will see later when we draw diagrams and write formulae to represent these reactions, they are compounds in which a metal is combined with oxygen, in some fixed ratio.
