How to Burn a Magnesium Ribbon
- 1). Place the Bunsen burner on the heat-proof mat. Attach it to the gas supply, and light it.
- 2). Cut a length of magnesium ribbon of about 2 inches. Use the metal tongs to hold the magnesium ribbon.
- 3). Open the air-hole of the Bunsen burner to adjust the flame to blue. Using the tongs, hold the magnesium ribbon in the hottest part of the Bunsen burner flame: at the tip of the pale blue central cone. It is necessary to hold the ribbon in the flame for several seconds to ignite it.
- 4). Remove the magnesium ribbon from the flame immediately after it catches fire, and hold it just above the heat-proof mat to burn. Do not look directly at the flame as the magnesium burns, because it can cause damage to the eyes. Partially close your eyes so you do not allow too much light in.
- 5). Observe the properties of the magnesium oxide produced. It should be a crumbly white solid.
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