which of the following statements supports th...
which of the following statements supports the correct equation for the previous question?\na oxygen is represented as a molecule and therefore has a subscript of 2 in the chemical equation.\nb magnesium is represented as a molecule and therefore has a subscript of 2 in the chemical equation.\nc neither oxygen nor magnesium should have subscripts in the equation because they are not represented as molecules.\nd magnesium oxide should have a subscript because it is a compound.
Answer
# Answer:
A. Oxygen is represented as a molecule and therefore has a subscript of 2 in the chemical equation.
# Explanation:
## Step1: Identify reactants and products
The reactants are magnesium (Mg) and oxygen (O₂), products are magnesium oxide (MgO).
## Step2: Analyze oxygen
Oxygen in nature exists as a di - atomic molecule O₂, so it has a subscript of 2 in the chemical equation.
## Step3: Analyze magnesium
Magnesium is a metal and is represented as an atom (Mg) not a molecule with a subscript in this reaction.
## Step4: Analyze magnesium oxide
Magnesium oxide (MgO) is a compound but doesn't have a subscript in the balanced equation 2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO for this reaction context.