Does magnesium have the tendency to combust in an atmospere of pure carbondioxide?
Magnesium won’t combust itself automatically in an atmosphere of CO2, but if you light it and place in 2 blocks of dry ice it DOES continue to react. In fact, magnesium “snatches” the oxygen from carbon to form magnesium oxide. The heat given off in this reaction is enough to make the reaction last until all magnesium/CO2 are reacted. The chemical equation of the reaction between a lighted magnesium ribbon and dry ice. 2 Mg (s) + CO2 (s) —> 2 MgO (s) + C (s) At the end, you will see white powder (MgO) and black solids (carbon) between the 2 pieces of dry ice.
