Burning of Magnesium
Description: Magnesium ribbon is ignited in a burner flame.
Source: Shakhashiri, B.Z. Chemical Demonstrations: A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry
Year: 1983 Vol: 1 Page: 38
Keywords: Magnesium, Exothermic, Oxidation, Combustion
Rating: 
Hazard: Medium
- Flammability hazard
- Burn hazard
- UV light emitter
- Self-heating solid
- Substances that produce flammable gases when wet
Effectiveness: Good
- Results are clearly observable without guidance
- Time to results is low
- High reliability
- Good connection from demo to course material
- Clear contrast in systems behavior
Difficulty: Low
- Simple procedures
- Simple manipulations for most to perform
- Use of pyrophoric material
- Use of open flame
Safety Precautions:
- High temperature gloves recommended
- Eye protection required
- Heat resistant surface required
- Caution audience about light emitted
- Sand or Class D fire extinguisher present
- Tongs required
- Avoid direct exposure to light
- Perform in a well-ventilated area
Class: Combustion Reaction, Oxidation Reaction, Thermochemistry, Group II Elements
Division: General
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