Page 47 - Big Ideas Year 10 sciPAD 2025

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SCIPAD - BIG IDEAS - BOOK 2
BASIS OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS
Metals and Oxygen
When a metal reacts with oxygen it produces a metal oxide.
Metal + oxygen metal oxide
When magnesium burns, the burning process is actually a reaction with oxygen. When you burn
magnesium, you are adding oxygen to it.
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, 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).
4. When the magnesium begins to burn, do not look directly at it, as the light
emitted can permanently damage your eyes.
Scissor tongs
Bunsen burner
Observations: 



Questions
1. Describe the physical properties of the magnesium before the reaction.

2. Describe the physical properties of the oxide formed after the reaction.

3. Why you shouldn’t you look directly at a piece of burning magnesium? 

4. Complete the word equation for this reaction.
Magnesium + Oxygen 
Magnesium held over
the top of blue flame
Do not look directly
at the burning
magnesium
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