Burning magnesium metal

Aim: To find out if burning magnesium makes it heavier.

Hypotheses: I think it will get lighter because when you burn the magnesium, some of it will evaporate.

Equipment: A4 Paper, Scale, Bunsen Burner, gauze mat, magnesium metal, scissor tongs, beaker.

Method: 
1. Put the scale down on a secure flat area and weigh the strip of magnesium in a beaker together. write down the results.

2. Set up the Bunsen burner and ready the scissor tongs.

3. Light the bunsen burner.

4. Put the beaker next to the bunsen burner and light the magnesium metal.









5. Once the magnesium metal is lit, quickly put it in the beaker.
6. Once the magnesium metal burns out, measure the weight of the burnt magnesium inside of the beaker.
7.  compare the weight of the magnesium metal to the burnt ashes left by the magnesium (Magnesium oxide).


Result:


Conclusion:
What was supposed to happen was that the magnesium would react with the oxygen in the air to produce magnesium oxide. Because another molecule (Oxygen) was added, it should have gotten heavier. Sadly I wasn't able to weigh and record my results.

Evaluation:
My attempt at this experiment is a total failure. My first mistake was using paper to hold the Burnt up magnesium (Magnesium oxide). The ashes burnt right through the paper onto the desk making it impossible to get an accurate measurement of the Magnesium oxide (MgO). because of this, I had to
redo the experiment using a beaker instead of paper.  BUT SOMEHOW, the beaker broke. making it impossible to get an accurate measurement. So in the end, I wasted a lot of time and got no results.

Safety: Safety glasses are needed. chemicals, loose hair needs to be tied up.

Discussion

Ions:
Atoms have the same amount of positively charged protons as negatively charged electrons. Because of this, the two charges cancel each other out and the atom becomes neutral. Atoms are most stable when they have a full outer shell. In order for atoms to become stable, they gain or lose electrons depending on how many electrons the atom already has on its outer shell. when an atom gains electrons, it means that the atom will have more negatively charged electrons than protons. Because of this, the atom becomes negatively charged. and when it loses electrons, the atom will contain more positively charged protons than electrons, meaning it will become positively charged. For example, a sodium atom had an electron arrangement of 2,8,1. In order for sodium to become an ion, it has to lose 1 election or gain 7 elections. It is easier for it to lose 1 election than to gain 7 electrons so the sodium will lose an election. By doing this the sodium will have 1 more proton than electrons meaning it will gain a positive charge and the election arrangement changes to 2,8+.

Balancing equations:
The equation Mg + O₂ = MgO is currently an unbalanced equation. This is because there is only one Magnesium atom and there are two oxygen atoms. This means that one oxygen atom will be left over after the reaction. In order to change this unbalanced equation into a balanced equation. All you would need to do is add another magnesium atom into the equation. By doing this, it changes the equation from Mg + O₂ = MgO into 2Mg + O₂ =2MgO.

What occurred during this experiment:
Two Magnesium atoms (2Mg) reacted with Oxygen (O₂) to produce Magnesium oxide (2MgO).
The electron arrangement of Magnesium is 2,8,2 and oxygen has an electron arrangement of 2,6.

Magnesium wants to lose 2 electrons to become more stable, while oxygen wants to gain 2 electrons to become more stable. Magnesium wants to lose elections, leaving it with 2 extra protons (Positive charges) and becomes the ion Mg²ᐩ. Oxygen wants to gain 2 electrons, leaving it with 2 extra

elections (Negative charges) and becomes the ion O²¯. Because of the opposite charges the two ions have, they become electrostatically attracted to each other.