Material
Tray, goggles, micro spirit burner, stopper of an infusion bottle (stand), scissors, tweezers, sandpaper, periodic table pyramid, water, methylated spirit magnesium ribbon (10 x 4 mm).

Experiment
1. The teacher distributes sandpapered pieces of magnesium ribbon (1 cm).
2. The micro burner is fixed inside the stopper and placed in the middle of the tray.
3. The bottom of the tray is covered with water, the burner is lit .
4. Hold the magnesium at one edge, light it at the tip of the flame.
5. Extinguish the burner when the reaction has started.
6. Fold and glue a periodic table pyramid.
Observations
Magnesium (Mg) is burning with a bright flame leaving a white brittle substance (Photo 1).
Explanation
Magnesium and oxygen react in an exothermic reaction leaving magnesium oxide (MgO).
Photo 3: Magnesium atoms (¹²Mg) have 2 electrons more than atoms of the noble gas neon (¹⁰Ne), oxygen atoms (⁸O)  have 2 electrons less than atoms of the noble gas neon (¹⁰Ne).
An electron transfer between Mg and O atoms takes place:
Mg donates two electrons, O accepts these 2 electrons, both are transformed into ions with a double charge  Mg  ---> Mg²⁺  +  2e^-                 O    + 2e^- ---> O^2-
These ions resemble the noble gas neon (¹⁰Ne) in their electron number but not in reactivity.
Mg ions and O ions attract each other forming a lattice:                                                                              Mg²⁺  +   O^2-  ---release of heat and light---> MgO(s)