Question

Show by activity that Magnesium on burning in the air forms a basic oxide.

Answer 1

• Metals react with oxygen to form metal oxides and these oxides are mostly basic in nature.
• The basicity of a chemical substance can be checked using phenolphthalein.
• Phenolphthalein is an indicator that turns pink in basic solutions.
• Magnesium on burning in the air reacts with oxygen to form Magnesium oxide. The reaction is shown below:
• $\underset{Magnesium}{2Mg\left(s\right)}+\underset{Oxygen}{O_2\left(g\right)}\to \underset{Magnesiumoxide}{2MgO\left(s\right)}$
• When phenolphthalein is added to Magnesium oxide, it turns into pink color which shows that is a basic oxide.

Thus, this shows that Magnesium oxide is a basic oxide.