Q&A for How to Conduct the Squeaky Pop Experiment

The products of the squeaky pop test are soluble magnesium chloride (MgCl2 (aq)) and hydrogen gas (H2 (g)).

Hydrogen is not toxic, but in its pure form is a chemical asphyxiant. Avoid inhaling it.

No, as long as the strip is magnesium, it should work fine for this experiment.

Yes. The only difference would be in the salt produced. If you use hydrochloric acid, magnesium chloride would be formed. If you use sulphuric acid, magnesium sulphate would be produced. Either way, hydrogen gas would still evolve.

It concludes that the reaction has a product of hydrogen, which is a flammable gas. And we can use this property of hydrogen to test for it.

The reaction of hydrochloric acid with magnesium is as follows: 2 HCl (aq ueous)+ 1 Mg(s olid) ==> 1 MgCl₂ (aq) + 1 H₂ (g as). The MgCl₂ (magnesium chloride) is aqueous because it is a soluble salt. The dihydrogen proceeds to enter in contact with the flame which is dioxygen and energy as follows: 2 H₂+O₂ ==> 2 H₂O. Yes, the hydrogen *burns* into *water*. Things actually generally burn into water, carbon dioxide or dinitrogen (the gas that consists of 80% of Earth's atmosphere/air.)