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What is Reaction of Magnesium with Air?
It is the chemical process where magnesium metal combines with oxygen to form magnesium oxide .
- Magnesium ribbon burns with a dazzling white flame in air.
- White powder forms when magnesium burns completely in air.
- Oxygen from air reacts with magnesium to produce magnesium oxide .
- Sandpaper cleaning removes oxide layer from magnesium ribbon surface.
Activity 4.6: Burning Magnesium Ribbon (Page 6)
What you need:
- Magnesium ribbon (3-4 cm long)
- Sandpaper
- Pair of tongs
- Spirit lamp or candle
- Watch glass
- Warm water
- Red litmus paper
What to do:
- Step 1: Take a magnesium ribbon about 3-4 centimetres long
- Step 2: Clean it by rubbing with a piece of sandpaper
- Step 3: Hold it with a pair of tongs
- Step 4: Ignite the other end using a spirit lamp or a candle
- Step 5: Let the magnesium ribbon burn completely
- Step 6: Collect the white powder on a watch glass
- Step 7: Add a few drops of warm water to this white powder
- Step 8: Stir it well and check its nature with litmus paper
Observations
What you see:
- Magnesium ribbon burns with dazzling white flame
- White powder forms after complete burning
- White powder is magnesium oxide
- Red litmus paper turns blue in magnesium oxide solution
- Solution is basic in nature
Why this happens:
We have studied that
magnesium metal
reacts with
oxygen
from air to form
magnesium oxide
. This is why the
white powder
forms and shows
basic nature
.
- Magnesium combines with oxygen during burning process
- Metal oxides are generally basic in nature
