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We did a lab in science and i need to find out what solutions where acidic, and which were basic (Alkaline) we put pieces of magnesium metal into each Solution, one of them fizzled and bubbled, one sank, and one floated.

active metals react with acids to produce hydrogen gas.
magnesium is an active metal
hydrogen gas makes the magnesium float
it does not react with the base

2 Responses

1. Chris G Says:
   February 22nd, 2010 at 11:21 am

   Elemental magnesium is a fairly strong, silvery-white, light-weight metal (two thirds the density of aluminium). It tarnishes slightly when exposed to air, although unlike the alkali metals, storage in an oxygen-free environment is unnecessary because magnesium is protected by a thin layer of oxide which is fairly impermeable and hard to remove. Like its lower periodic table group neighbor calcium, magnesium reacts with water at room temperature, though it reacts much more slowly than calcium. When it is submerged in water, hydrogen bubbles will almost unnoticeably begin to form on the surface of the metal, though if powdered it will react much more rapidly. The reaction will occur faster with higher temperatures (see precautions). Magnesium also reacts exothermically with most acids, such as hydrochloric acid (HCl). As with aluminium, zinc and many other metals, the reaction with hydrochloric acid produces the chloride of the metal and releases hydrogen gas.
   References :

2. science teacher Says:
   February 22nd, 2010 at 11:30 am

   active metals react with acids to produce hydrogen gas.
   magnesium is an active metal
   hydrogen gas makes the magnesium float
   it does not react with the base
   References :

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