EleE02 Combustion of magnesium, an oxidation
(Teacher experiment)

* Left Lit your microburner on a fire-resistant base.
* Hold a tiny piece of magnesium into the upper part of the flame.
* Middle: Magnesium burns with a very bright flame, white smoke rises.
* Right: A white brittle substance is left.
Explanation making use of the
element pyramide (EP):
* During combustion Mg reacts with oxygen (O)  leaving magnesium oxide (MgO).
* In row 3. of the EP you obeserve the neighbouring elements N, O, F, Ne, Na, Mg.
* The noble metal neon (Ne) is situated in the middle  between oxygen (O) and magnesium (Mg).
  The reaction between Mg and O makes their atoms similar to a Ne atom.

More explanation in the next chapter.

 

back....... go on..........first publication: 13.10.2001...................................................last modification: 19.10.2008