Magnesium Oxide and water| Acids & Bases | Chemistry

In this activity we explore the nature of metallic oxides. By burning a strip of magnesium, we obtain magnesium oxide which we then dissolve in water. We test this magnesium oxide solution with litmus paper. The solution does not affect blue litmus but turns red litmus blue. This tells us that magnesium oxide is basic or alkaline in nature. In general, metal oxides are basic in nature.