1. Place a small piece of magnesium ribbon into a test tube.
2. Use a pipette to add 2-4 ml hydrochloric acid.
3. Cover the top of the tube with your thumb. It is important to stop the gas from escaping.
4. Wait for 1-2 minutes. Angling the test tube away from you and any other students, carefully put a lit splint into the top of your test tube.