In daily life, the first thing we react to when we see a fire is to use water to extinguish it. In daily life, if we find magnesium on fire, we cannot use water or any other non-D type fire extinguisher to extinguish the fire caused by magnesium under any circumstances. Water, carbon dioxide, foam and other liquids will react with the burning magnesium, and strengthen the fire rather than suppress it. And these phenomena are all related to the characteristics of magnesium itself. Magnesium has strong reducibility and can react with boiling water to release hydrogen gas. When burned, it can produce dazzling white light. Magnesium can undergo combustion reaction with CO2, therefore magnesium combustion cannot be extinguished with carbon dioxide fire extinguishers. Magnesium can react with N2 and O2, so when it burns in air, it violently emits dazzling white light, releases heat, and forms a white solid.
Magnesium combustion mainly involves a violent reaction with oxygen, and the main principle of fire extinguishing is to isolate the air. Suggestion for us to use: 1. Class D fire extinguisher: Its material usually uses sodium chloride based powder or a passivated graphite based powder, which works by eliminating oxygen to extinguish the fire. 2. Covering agent or dry sand: It can be used to cover small-scale fires, and its principle is also to extinguish the fire by eliminating oxygen. 3. Cast iron debris: It can also be used in the absence of other good fire extinguishing materials. Its main function is to lower the temperature below the ignition point of magnesium, rather than extinguish the fire.
Therefore, when we see metal catching fire and emitting dazzling white light with a large amount of white smoke generated, our first thought is not to use water and carbon dioxide to extinguish the fire. Stay calm and composed, otherwise it will eventually lead to a major disaster.