Question

When magnesium burns in air, a while powder is formed. Explain.

Answer 1

When magnesium burns in the air, it reacts with the oxygen present in air and burns with a dazzling light, thus producing dense white fumes. These white fumes, on cooling, form a powder called magnesium oxide that exhibits completely different properties from that of magnesium. This change is irreversible; hence, it is a chemical change.