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Science (086) — CBSE Class 10 board question

Q1. [1] § 1.1 CHEMICAL EQUATIONS
The main observations while performing the experiment of burning magnesium ribbon in air are : (i) Magnesium ribbon burns with a dazzling white flame. (ii) A white powder is formed. (iii) Magnesium ribbon vapourises. (iv) Aqueous solution of the white powder turns blue litmus to red.
  1. A (i) and (iv)
  2. B (ii) and (iii)
  3. C (i) and (ii)
  4. D (iii) and (iv)
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2025 31/5/1 Q1
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-14 10:29 · grounding rag
Model Answer

C — (i) and (ii)

When magnesium ribbon is burnt in air, it burns with a dazzling white flame and forms a white powder (magnesium oxide). Magnesium does not vapourise, and MgO dissolved in water gives a basic solution (turns red litmus blue, not blue litmus red).

Explanation

Observation (i) is directly stated in Activity 1.1: "magnesium ribbon burns with a dazzling white flame." Observation (ii) is also confirmed: "changes into a white powder" (MgO). Option (iii) is wrong — magnesium burns, it does not simply vapourise. Option (iv) is wrong — MgO is a basic oxide; its aqueous solution turns red litmus blue, not blue litmus red. Examiners expect students to eliminate incorrect observations using their knowledge of the nature of MgO.

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Previous-year CBSE Grade 10 board exam questions, organised by subject and chapter, each with a model answer — free to read and print.