Hazards:
Magnesium burns extremely bright. Do not look directly at the flame.
Chemicals and Solutions:
magnesium ribbon
Materials:
Hotplate
Two 1L Erlenmeyer flasks
water
dry ice
tongs
bunsen burner and matches
wood splints
Procedure:
Make a steam bath by heating a small amount of water in an Erlenmeyer flask on a hot plate.
Holding a wooden splint with tongs, ignite it and place it in the boiling water. It will extinguish. Repeat this step using magnesium ribbon. Magnesium burns in steam.
Place dry ice in the second erlenmeyer. Holding a wooden splint with tongs, ignite it and place it in the carbon dioxide vapor. It will extinguish. Repeat this step using magnesium ribbon. Magnesium burns in carbon dioxide. Look for the black specks of carbon formed.
Hint:
Discussion:
Magnesium burns in substances that normally extinguish flames. It burns in boiling water and carbon dioxide:
Mg + H2O ==> MgO + H2
2Mg + CO2 ==> 2 MgO + C
To schedule a demonstration, please send an email to the demonstration lab.
Contact:
Eric Camp
Lecture Demonstration Technician
Bagley Hall 171
(206) 543-1606