Question

A mixture of magnesium powder and lead oxide will react vigorously when heated but no reaction occurs when a mixture of magnesium oxide and lead powder are heated.

1. Explain the observation. 
2. Which of the two substances, magnesium or lead oxide is:
   1. Oxidized in the reaction? 
   2. The oxidizing agent? 

Answer 1

1. Magnesium is more reactive than lead hence removes oxygen from lead oxide while lead cannot remove oxygen from magnesium oxide hence no reaction.
2.   
   1. Magnesium.
   2. Lead oxide.