Question

Why should a magnesium ribbon be cleaned before burning in air?​

Answer 1

$\huge\pink{\mid{\fbox{\tt{༒ANSWER༒}}\mid}}$

mαgnєѕíum ríввσn muѕt вє clєαnєd вєfσrє вurníng ín αír ѕσ thαt thє lαчєr σf mαgnєѕíum σхídє (whích íѕ fσrmєd duє tσ rєαctíσn σf mαgnєѕíum wíth αír) cαn вє rєmσvєd ín σrdєr tσ gєt thє dєѕírєd chєmícαl rєαctíσn.

Answer 2

Answer :

Magnesium is a highly reactive metal. When exposed to air for a long time it gets coated with the layer of oxide which is physically and mentally stable and therefore, partly masks the reactivity of magnesium. The oxide coating does not burn when a flame is brought in contact with the metal. Therefore, the surface should be cleaned, with a sandpaper before burning the magnesium ribbon in air.