Burning of magnesium in air

We will require a small piece of magnesium ribbon, sand paper, tongs, china dish, red
litmus paper and Bunsen burner.
Take the magnesium ribbon and rub it with a sand paper, so that it looks silvery white.

Hold the magnesium ribbon with a pair of tongs.

Light the magnesium ribbon.

It burns brilliantly and a white ash is left behind.

Collect the ash of the burnt ribbon in a china dish and label it as magnesium oxide.

Magnesium burns in air to form magnesium oxide (MgO).

Take a little amount of magnesium oxide using a spatula. Place this on a moist red litmus paper that
is placed over a white tile. The red litmus paper turns blue, indicating MgO is basic in nature.