• Question: Why is it that when you burn substances some become oxides and some become dioxides?

    Asked by Elliot to Aaron, David, Elaine, Sarah, Zoe on 11 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: David Foley

      David Foley answered on 11 Nov 2014:

      Has to fill the valence of the material. Carbons forms 4 bonds usually, so it forms carbon dioxide. Calcium only forms two bonds, so it forms calcium oxide.

    • Photo: Zoe Roberts

      Zoe Roberts answered on 12 Nov 2014:

      It is all to do with how many bonds the atom can form. Carbon can form 4 bonds so forms carbon dioxide. In contrast, Magnesium forms an oxide (MgO).

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