as the group's progress going from the left of the table to the right of the the table, the valance electrons increase. although group 14 is split up by a ladder stair steppy thingy. the ones on the top take electrons, and the ones below give electrons.
Once ignited, a ribbon of magnesium metal burns freely in air to form solid magnesium oxide in the form of a white powder. The reaction is plainly spontaneous even though ΔS is negative.
