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Old 05-19-08, 12:39 PM   #5
richardphat
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tombow
Magnesium burning underwater is rubbish. The reaction goes the following way:

Mg+2H20->Mg(OH)2+H2.

The reaction generates a great amount of heat and hydrogen. If a magnesium chunk is trown into water, the reaction heat is enough to ignite the hydrogen released provided there is contact with air - for a fire, an oxidizer is needed (in this case air oxygen). Underwater, there is no oxygen, so no fire. Inside an U-boot there is oxygen, so magnesium coming in contact with water can start a formidable fire.

As for military application, magnesium charges might be useful for fooling a heat-seeking torpedoes (if any of that kind exist).

How fish can survive without oxygen?!?!?!?(No offense)
Or do you mean fire cannot ignite and then no explosion??!?!?!? They can still use black powder it can burn without O2, or they can compress a bit of O2 inside the torpedo. Its very dangerous i know, i always thought the army will use any dangerous way to destroy something?
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