Burning Magnesium

Aim: I want to find out what happens when I burn Magnesium.



Hypothesis:
I predict that the Magnesium will give off blue flames.


Equipment:
Bunsen Burner
Magnesium
Scissor  Tongs
Safety Glasses
Method:

1. Get your equipment
2. Light the Bunsen Burner
3. Hold the magnesium in the blue flame with the scissor tongs
Results:


We burned a strip of solid grey Magnesium metal in the blue flame of a Bunsen burner and it shined with a bright white light for about 10 second. When it stopped burning, a white powder was left.


Discussion:

When magnesium burns, it is actually reacting with oxygen in the air and not with fire. Fire is what we call the heat and light produced when things burn. Magnesium reacts with oxygen to make a compound called magnesium oxide. The bright light results because this reaction produces a lot of heat.

Conclusion: My hypothesis was the magnesium gonna give off blue flames. I was wrong it maked a white and shiny light.



Link to answer