The second experiment (from page 47 in Catalyst) involves heating Mg metal in air to make the oxide MgO. You weigh your Mg sample accurately and then heat the metal in a crucible using a Bunsen burner. The lid needs to stay on the crucible for most of the time you are heating to avoid loss of the MgO powder. After following the instructions in your manual you obtain the product (MgO) as a fine powder which is then weighed. From the difference in weights you will be able to calculate the percent composition.
The Bunsen Burner
Getting the flame right on a Bunsen burner takes some practice. After connecting the tube to the gas outlet you open the gas supply then light the Bunsen burner. There are two controls near the bottom that are used to altar the gas/air composition. Detailed instructions for how to do this are found here.
For this experiment you need a very hot flame, which is not the case in this picture. If your flame looks like this then adjust the gas/air controls until you have a blue flame. This should then be hot eno
ugh for this experiment.
Heating the Mg Sample
Wrap the Mg sample up tightly and place it in the crucible which is itself supported above the Bunsen burner by the triangle and ring clamp. Be patient with this and the Mg should ignite as you heat it. The video below shows what happens upon ignition.
