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Magnesium


Guest Nightwolf

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Guest Nightwolf

This may seem a rather easy question to ask but why does Magnesium burn so easily. Does it have something to do with the electrons? :confused:

I'm at a lose when it comes to science like this. :) Thanks

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eh this isnt quantum mechanics... magnesium oxidizes easily because of its valency of 2 and its nucleus' little control of the electrons in its outermost S sublevel. you know how alkali metals react with air? this is the same thing except it is more rapid. if you ignite an alkali metal it will react vigorously as well

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Now I am confused, you say that magnesium blocks are difficult to light, but many people use sticks of magnesium in order to start fires. Are you refering to a larger layer of magnesium oxide covering the outside of the "blocks?"

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what you do with a fire starter is get the magnesium block and scrape it with something steel eg a steel blade this produce's sparks which are capable of lighting tinder, or straw ect there are no shreds used and with the lit straw/tinder you then light larger pieace's of wood and the you have your fire

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No. It’s basically magnesium block glued to a flint block. You scrape the magnesium off into a pile then you flip it around and scrape the flint off (which burns on contact with the air) which lights the magnesium. Of course I could be wrong and you could be thinking of something completely different that I have not heard of.

 

Jake: Think of an aluminum heat sink. Aluminum will also burn.

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I think you are both confusing a magnesium firestarter with flint and steel.

 

Also I think i have seen magnesium cylinders with plastic handles that you scrape wit a piece of steel. It makes sparks as you scrape bit of the magnesuium off.

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