Mr. mcphillip has a ribbon of magnesium (mg), a silvery metal. as a demonstration for his class, he sets the metal on fire. it burns brightly, leaving behind a whitish powder. mr. mcphillip has a ribbon of magnesium (mg), a silvery metal. as a demonstration for his class, he sets the metal on fire. it burns brightly, leaving behind a whitish powder. the magnesium is a(n) and the powder produced by burning it is a(n) a. element; compound b. compound; compound c. compound; element d. element; element