Burning Magnesium

Aim:
I want to find out what happens to Magnesium when you burn it.

Hypothesis:
I predict that when you burn Magnesium it will turn into ashes.

Equipment:
Heat Mat, Bunsen Burner, Scissor Tongs, Magnesium, Lighter and Safety Goggles.

Method:

1. Get equipment
2. Put on safety goggles
3. Put down your heat mat
4. Connect you Bunsen Burn to the gas tap
5. Close the air hole on the Bunsen Burner
6. Ignite the light
7. Turn on the gas
8. Open the air hole on your Bunsen Burner
9. Hold the Magnesium in the Scissor Tongs
10. Put the Magnesium into the blue flame
11. Observe what happens

Results:

When I burned solid, shiny grey Magnesium in the blue Bunsen burner flame it formed a bright, light white and lasted for 5-6 seconds. Then it burned out. Some white powder was left over.









When magnesium is in its metal form it will burn very easily in air. However, in order to start the reaction (the burning) the magnesium metal needs a source of energy. The flame provides a source of heat so that the magnesium metal atoms can overcome their activation energy. Activation energy is the minimum energy required in order for a chemical reaction to proceed. When the magnesium metal burns it reacts with oxygen found in the air to form Magnesium Oxide. A compound is a material in which atoms of different elements are bonded to one another. Oxygen and magnesium combine in a chemical reaction to form this compound. After it burns, it forms a white powder of the magnesium oxide. Magnesium gives up two electrons to oxygen atoms to form this powdery product. This is an exothermic reaction. An exothermic reaction is a term that describes a chemical reaction in which there is a net release of energy (heat).
http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Under_Construction/Demonstrations/Burning_Magnesium

Conclusion

My hypothesis was that it was going to go into black ashes. I was incorrect. It turned into a glowed bright light white.

Evaluation

Other experiments related to this I could do are:

• Do all metals glow brightly?
• How hot did the magnesium get before it reacted?
• Did it make any other chemicals?
• Why did it have a white light and not blue or green?
• What would happen if we used a chunk of Magnesium?
• What would happen if we used powered Magnesium?

How to write a science report

Aim:
This is what I want to find out

Hypothesis:
This is an educated guess.

Equipment:
This is a list of stuff I need

Method:
These are step-by-step instructions.

Variables:
These are factors that can change the results

Results:
These are my observations (what I can see, smell, feel, hear, taste)
I need to do my results in a table.

Analysis:
This is where you need to perform any calculations
I need to do a graph

Discussion:
This is where I explain the results and I answer the Question "Why"

Conclusion:
This is where I say if my hypothesis was correct.

Evaluation:
This is your reflection on the investigation

• If something went wrong, what was it and how did I fix it
• Were there any anomalies (weird results that didn't fix the pattern)
• What were some of the problems and how could you fix them in the future
• Has your investigation raised any challenging questions?            

Welcome to science

Hi, my name is Alayna Mintrom.
I go to Hornby High School.