Question

Why should magnesium ribbon should be clean before burning in air?

Answer 1

magnesium ribbon should be cleaned before burning because: - magnesium is a very reactive metal. so magnesium ribbon reacts with atmospheric oxygen and forms magnesium oxide, which interferes with further reaction of the metal. therefore we clean it with sand paper to remove the coating of magnesium oxide.

Answer 2

Magnesium gets covered with a layer of magnesium oxide when kept in air for a long time .

This layer hinders the burning of

magnesium . Hence , it should be

cleaned before burning .