Chemistry Forum

Hi there,

I would like your assistance in the following questions, for which I failed to find an answer on my own:
1. Suppose I burn some edible plants in 600 degrees celsius. Will the remaining mineral ash contain minerals such as magnesium, potassium, etc. in their natural, inorganic form?
2. Magnesium, for example. is known to react with oxygen in the air, to create MgO, among others. Is it likely for the aforementioned mineral ash specifically to react in such a way with the air when left in a container for a week?

Many thanks!

If you burn plants, the minerals will remaining mostly as carbonates and oxides. Potash for example is potassium carbonate K₂CO₃. So you also can find Soda sodium carbonate Na₂CO₃, lime calciumcarbonate CaCO₃ and also Magnesa magnesiumcarbonate MgCO₃. With higher temperature these carbonates can decompose to the oxides like MgO, CaO K₂O, Na₂O.