Need a light?

This photo shows the combustion of magnesium inside a block of dry ice, a demo performed at the University of Waterloo Science Open House Chemistry Show as part of National Chemistry Week. Although dry ice is very cold (-78 °C) and CO₂ is used in some fire extinguishers, Mg (once ignited) will undergo a redox reaction with CO₂ to produce MgO and carbon. This dazzling reaction produces a very bright glow and lights up a darkened room. Photo taken by Martin Schwalbe.