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Teachers TV
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Dry Ice - Magnesium Sandwich
From the Teachers TV series Demonstrating Chemistry, this video features Professor Hal Sosabowski from the University of Brighton. Using two blocks of frozen carbon dioxide, he demonstrates how magnesium is so reactive that it can cause carbon dioxide to act as an oxidant, promoting a fire rather than putting it out.
Having drilled a hole in one of the blocks, Hal fills it with magnesium turnings, lights the magnesium with a blowtorch, and quickly places the second block on top. The magnesium first reacts with all of the oxygen inside the hole and then starts to reduce the carbon dioxide. The result is a beautiful intense glow inside the blocks. The preparation of the magnesium blocks requires some care and tips are given at the end of the film.
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