Is magnesium flammable?
Pure magnesium is very flammable. It burns with a blinding white light, so bright that it used to be used as flash powder. It also burns extremely hot, hot enough to reach 2000 degrees in some situations. The important thing to remember about magnesium is that it will only burn if it has a high surface area to mass ratio. Most magnesium that is sold and intended to be burnt is either a ribbon or a powder. A brick of magnesium metal will not catch on fire. Magnesium fires are very safe and beautiful when small quantities such as ribbon are burnt. These fires are easily put out with water, or even blown out. Magnesium only becomes a risk when an extremely large amount, such as at a factory, catches on fire. At this point almost nothing can put out the fire. If you are asking this question because you have something that contains magnesium such as mag-wheels or the like, the magnesium is in an alloy with aluminum and will absolutely not catch on fire.
