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Education

Chemistry in Pictures: Blinded by the magnesium

by Craig Bettenhausen
April 12, 2019
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Four photo panels in which a magnesium ribbon is ignited.
Credit: Submitted by Edgar Özuzun

When magnesium reacts with oxygen, it produces light bright enough to blind you temporarily. Magnesium burns so bright because the reaction releases a lot of heat. As a result of this exothermic reaction, magnesium gives two electrons to oxygen, forming powdery magnesium oxide (MgO). In the sequence shown here, a person places a piece of magnesium metal in an alcohol stove flame. As the magnesium starts to burn, the flame is at first a red-orange, and then turns bright white as the flame reaches its full temperature in the bottom right panel.

Submitted by Edgar Özuzun

Do science. Take pictures. Win money. Enter our photo contest here.

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