Materials and Equipment:

- Crucible with lid           - Wash bottle with deionized water

- Ring stand                  - Clay triangle

- Bunsen Burner            - Paper clip

- Balance                     - Magnesium powder, 0.5 g

- Crucible tongs

Methods:

1. Obtain a crucible and lid, and measure and record the mass.
2. Heat the crucible for 10 to 12 minutes.
3. Allow the crucible to cool, then measure and record the mass of the"fired" crucible.
4. Repeats steps 2-3 until two readings for the mass are within 10 mg of each other.
5. Add between 0.17 and 0.23 mg of magnesium powder to the crucible.
6. Measure and record the mass of the magnesium, crucible, and lid.
7. Heat the sample for 2-3 minutes, then increase the heat and continue heating until the sample starts to glow (maintain the glow for 3 minutes).
8. Continue heating the sample for about 3 minutes, until the bright glow of the contents of the crucible turns to a pale glow.
9. Remove the lid using tongs, and break the crust over the contents of the crucible using a straightened paperclip (mix the contents carefully so that any unreacted metal comes to the surface).
10.   Stop the heating, and allow the crucible to cool.
11.   Repeat steps 7-9 until no unreacted metal is visible.
12.   Re-heat the crucible and sample, with the lid slightly open, for 15-20 minutes.
13.  Stop heating when the sample has a pale glow, and allow the crucible to cool.
14.   Measure and record the mass of the crucible, lid, and metal oxide.
15.   Re-heat the crucible and sample for 5 minutes.
16.   Allow the crucible to cool and measure and record the mass (continue heating until two consecutive readings are within 10 mg of each other).
17.   Dispose of the metal oxide in the appropriate container.
18.   Clean the crucible of magnesium oxide residue ( wash with soap, rinse three times with tap water, and then rinse again with deionized water).
19.   Clean up according to your teacher's instructions.