Magnesia (MgO(s)) is used for fire brick, crucibles and furnace linings because

Question

Magnesia (MgO(s)) is used for fire brick, crucibles and furnace linings because of its high melting point. It is produced by decomposing magnesite (MgCO3(s)) into at around 1200oC

Write a balanced equation for the magensite decomposition being sure to include states for the species.

I thought it was: MgCO3(s) ...> MgO (s) + CO2(g) but it was marked wrong. help..thank you.•

It said hint: When MgCo3 decomposes, MgO is one of the products. What is the other product? what formula could you use to calculate the change in enthalpy for a reaction if you had access to the molar enthalpies for each of the reactants and products?

Explanation / Answer

you are 100 % correct. the balnced equation is correct.

MgCO3(s) -----------------> MgO (s) + CO2(g)

Horxn = Hfoproducts - Hforeactants

            = ( HoMgO + H0CO2 ) - HoMgCO3

            = ( - 597.98 + -393.51 ) - (-1095.79)

            = 104.3 kJ/mol

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