Making a Metal Oxide

Aim: To create a metal oxide and observe the difference in properties of the product compared to the reactants.

Equipment:

A piece of magnesium
Bunsen burner
Safety glasses
Metal scissor tongs

Method:

1. Light your Bunsen burner.
2. Hold your piece of magnesium in the scissor tongs. Ensure you are holding the very tip of the strip.
3. Place the opposite end into the flame, at the very top of the blue flame, at its hottest.
4. When the magnesium begins to burn, DO NOT DIRECTLY LOOK AT IT. The light emitted from the magnesium can permanently damage your eyes.

Results:

The metal sparked and began to glow a bright white. Once it ceased the magnesium to a white ashy strip. This means the experiment was a success.

Discussion:

The magnesium being burned is a process that causes the to magnesium react with the oxygen to create magnesium oxide. The reaction creates an extreme heat which causes the bright light as well due to the amount of energy created. What's left (the ash white and crumbly mess) is called magnesium oxide. The reaction can be sped up or slowed down depending on the temperate (of the bunsen burner) that causes the reaction.