Making a Metal Oxide

Aim: To make a metal oxide and observe the difference in properties of the product compared to the reactants.
Equipment: A piece of magnesium, bunsen burner, safety glasses, and metal scissor tongs.
Method:
1.) Light your Bunsen burner
2.) Hold your piece of magnesium in the scissor tongs. Ensure you are holding onto the very tip of the magnesium.
3.) Place the other end of the magnesium into the Bunsen flame (at the top of the blue flame).


Observation: It burns with very bright light.





Facts about Magnesium Oxide
*It's chemical formula is MgO
* Magnesium oxide is used by libraries to make books last longer.
* It is used for the insulator for some electrical wires.

 Discussion:
Magnesium is a silvery-white and light-weight metal and chemical element that has a symbol 'Mg' and atomic number 12.
Oxygen is a colourless, odourless reactive gas chemical element that has a symbol 'O' and atomic number 8. It is also used for respiration process.

Magnesium is a metal form that easily gets burn in the air. When the magnesium burns it reacts with oxygen found in the air to form magnesium oxide. Oxygen and Magnesium are needed to combine to make this compound. When it burns, it forms a white ashes magnesium oxide. The magnesium gives up 2 electrons and Oxygen gains two electrons to make this compound. How can an atom become positively or negatively charged? If extra electrons are added to an atom, it will become negatively charged. If electrons are removed from an atom, it will become positively charged this is called combination.

       Balance equation

Mg+O2→Mg

      2Mg+ O2→2MgO

Evaluation:
During the experiment, When the magnesium begins to burn, do not directly at it. Because when it's burning the light emitted can permanently damage your eyes, Also it produces ultra-violet (UV) light which can damage your eyes if you stare at it for too long so if you do this experiment be aware to not look directly in the light.