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No, magnesium is a type of metal. It can heat up in fire, but is not actually apart of the fire.

The above stated answer is actually only partially correct. It is a chemical element with the symbol Mg, atomic number 12 and common oxidation number +2. It is an alkaline earth metal and the eighth most abundant element in the Earth's crust.

However,Magnesium metal and its alloys are explosive hazards; they are highly flammable in their pure form when molten or in powder or ribbon form. Burning or molten magnesium metal reacts violently with water. When working with powdered magnesium, safety glasses with welding eye protection are employed, because the bright white light produced by burning magnesium contains u/v light that can permanently damage the retinas of the eyes.

Magnesium is capable of reducing water to the highly flammable hydrogen gas:Mg (s) + 2 H2O (l) → Mg(OH)2 (s) + H2 (g)

As a result, water cannot be used to extinguish magnesium fires; the hydrogen gas produced will only intensify the fire. Dry sand is an effective smothering agent but is usable only on relatively level and flat surfaces.

Magnesium also reacts with carbon dioxide to form magnesium oxide and carbon:2 Mg (s) + CO2 → 2 MgO (s) + C (s)

Hence, carbon dioxide fire extinguisher cannot be used for extinguishing magnesium fires either.

Burning magnesium is usually quenched by using a D-Class dry chemical fire extinguisher, or by covering the fire with sand or magnesium foundry flux to remove its air source, It should be noted as well, that sand is a means of last resort, depending on the size of magnesium fire, if it is widespread, the heat generated will actually melt the sand into its liquid form glass.

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