Chemistry Comes Alive! C C Alive! Table of Contents Index Textbooks

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Magnesium is placed in a cavity in a block of dry ice. The magnesium is ignited... and covered with another block of dry ice. Despite the absence of air, the magnesium continues to glow, due to its reaction with carbon dioxide. Because of this reaction, carbon dioxide cannot be used to extinguish magnesium fires. The reaction products are white magnesium oxide and black carbon.

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Magnesium plus carbon dioxide reacts to give carbon and magnesium oxide.

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