<VV> magnesium fans

[James Davis]

Most fire needs oxygen for combustion  There is a chemical fire where 
chlorine or fluorine is the oxidizer but they are rare.  When burning 
magnesium comes in contact with water is simply disassociates the 
oxygen and hydrogen atoms that make-up water and the magnesium uses 
that oxygen to continue burning.  The hydrogen left over from the 
reaction rises to the water's surface as a gas.  Carbon dioxide, dry 
chemical and Halon fire extinguishers work well to snuff a magnesium 
fire. Just don't try to use water.
Jim Davis




At 05:23 PM 12/28/2006, Zane Brock wrote:
>Magnesium burns under water and is used for such as under water flares and
>welding applications. Short of sticking it in liquid nitrogen I don't think
>that it can be put out.
>
>Regards,
>
>Zane Brock
>zanebrock at bellsouth.net
>678-494-5281office
>678-231-6373 cell
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
>[mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of Harry Yarnell
>Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2006 4:33 PM
>To: corvair
>Subject: <VV> magnesium fans
>
>Has anyone, um, tossed one of these on a bonfire, just to see what would
>happen? Sort of like the vacuum cleaner blowups taken to the next level.
>I've seen magnesium burn, and it's rather intense. Not sure you can put out
>a magnesium fire...
>Just wondering....
>
>harry yarnell