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Why can't carbon dioxide put out a magnesium fire

Question

Why can't carbon dioxide put out a magnesium fire

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Solution

Magnesium fires cannot be extinguished by carbon dioxide for a couple of reasons:

  1. Magnesium is a highly reactive metal, it can react with carbon dioxide to produce magnesium oxide and carbon. This reaction is exothermic, meaning it releases heat. This heat can then cause the magnesium to continue burning.

  2. Carbon dioxide extinguishers work by displacing oxygen in the air. Magnesium can burn in the absence of air. It can even continue to burn in nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or other common fire suppression agents.

So, using carbon dioxide to put out a magnesium fire would not only be ineffective, but it could also make the fire worse.

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