What happens when magnesium ribbon is burnt in air?

Answer 1

Magnesium is an extremely reactive metal. When stored, it reacts with oxygen to form a layer of magnesium oxide on its surface. This layer of magnesium oxide is quite stable and prevents further reaction of magnesium with oxygen. The magnesium ribbon is cleaned by sand paper for removing this layer so that the underlying metal can be exposed to air.

Answer 2

Magnesium ribbon should be cleaned before burning it in air to remove the oxide layer from it which may prevent or slow down the burning of magnesium ribbon.

Answer 3

Magnesium is quite reactive so it naturally forms a slight coating of its oxide. Aluminium does the same and this acts as a protectant to the metal inside. Normally you would burn Mg to find the mass of the oxide formed. If there is already some oxide present it will cause the result to be inaccurate. Cleaning the ribbon first allows pure Mg to react.

Answer 4

It's important to clean it, in order to remove the dark layers of carbonate and sulphate which have been formed on the ribbon because of the reaction of Mg with CO2 and SO2. They don't allow for the complete oxidation of the element and so they have to be removed.

Answer 5

1. When the magnesium metal burns it reacts with oxygen found in the air to form Magnesium Oxide, which is a compound. A compound is a material in which atoms of different elements are bonded to one another. Oxygen and magnesiumcome together in a chemical reaction to form this compound.

Answer 6

to remove the layer of basic magnesium carbonate to remove the layer of Mg Oxide

Answer 7

magnesium has a layer of magnesium oxide so it is rubbed by sand paper before burning other wise magnesium will not burn

Answer 8

To remove the layer of magnesium oxide from the surface which would inhibit reaction.