Chemistry experiment 58 - Burning pencil sharpener

Some pencil sharpeners are made of elementary magnesium. They can be set on fire using a gas torch. A bright white flame can be observed.

[@TheGamersState]

You know what's funny? I was thinking the other day "I kinda wish this channel had an intro", glad to see that's now the case.

[@qazmatron]

Some of the yellow color in the white magnesium oxide could be magnesium nitride. Wet that and you might smell ammonia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium_nitride

[@rogerprodactorstevez6740]

you can light plastic ones on fire too they just melt

[@sebastiankusyk7764]

You can make a spectroscope from a CD/DVD and see the spectrum of yellow and white flame.

[@jonhoyles714]

nice find never new that cheers :) any chance of seeing some more electro chemistry of different reagents maybe using a split cell for collection of a precipitate of things that work using mixed metal anodes cathodes or gold platinum would be interesting to see whats possible :)

[@SemenTheSailor]

I think you meant “elemental” not “elementary.”

[@jihahassan9900]

Remind me of not burning the pencil sharpener

[@mihael64]

Quick question, where else can you find pure magnesium?

[@akshita3507]

so cool its looking