How would the reaction of a metal oxide with hydrogen gas occur?

Answer 1

This type of reaction could be inverted, meaning it could be naturally nonspontaneous. This would occur if the pure metal had a higher oxidation rate than hydrogen gas.

However, if we supply heat and a steady, pressurized flow of #"H"_2(g)#, we can force this reaction to occur. even if that is the case. An example is:
#color(blue)("MgO"(s) + "H"_2(g) stackrel(Delta, "Pressure"" ")(->) "Mg"(s) + "H"_2"O"(g))#
We can see that #"H"_2# was oxidized to water (#0 -> +1#), and #"MgO"# was reduced to #"Mg"# (#+2 -> 0#).
Normally, #"H"_2# is less reactive than #"Mg"# (less easily oxidized), so that is why this reaction had to be catalyzed by heat and excess #"H"_2(g)#.

CHALLENGE: If sodium oxide were used instead of other oxide, how would this reaction be written? Would heat still be needed if high heat and pressure were still needed?

Typically, a naturally occurring spontaneous reaction would be:

#"Mg"(s) + "H"_2"O"(g) -> "MgO"(s) + "H"_2(g)#

which is why magnesium fires should never be put out with water because hydrogen gas is flammable.

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Answer 2

When a metal oxide reacts with hydrogen gas, it usually reduces to form the metal and water vapor (a process known as a reduction reaction). The specific reaction that occurs depends on the metal oxide that is involved. The hydrogen gas functions as a reducing agent by giving electrons to the metal oxide, which causes the oxygen atoms in the oxide to break their bonds with the metal atoms and form water vapor.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

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