Chyros

I'd quite like to know whether if this works, the magnesium would be perfect for high ignition temperature compositions. e.g thermite

Thermite is set off by very high temperatures only, I believe, I'd imagine you'd have to use a transformer or something like it to set that off... Woudn't wanna try though, it could easily mess uo the circuit and overload.

Adam, lol why are you shuddering for so many reasons?

I dunno, Parkinson maybe?

I am curious about this reaction. Is it: Mg + H2O = MgO + H2 ?

Sounds reasonable, I can't see what other reaction it could be...

If powdered Mg was dropped in water, would the reaction take place at a dangerous speed?

I would like to see such a reaction; is there a safe way to do it (eg. remotely activated and away from all people/property/flammables)?

I've never tried this reaction at all, but I know that if you put in magnesium ribbon, the bubbles form only very slowly. I don't think powdering it will make it form bubbles at super speed but safety doesn't hurt. If you want to do it from a distance you could either suspend something burning over the container with water and make it act like a pilot flame, or you could place a bigger container upside down over it with a big hole in it and light the hole from a distance (this would increase the "bang" you'd get). If you find the powder reaction is much too slow, you could consider electrolysing some magnesium ribbon suspended in the water (this would speed up the reaction and add oxygen to the reaction, making it bang even louder).

I'm shuddering it won't set the powder off... Anyways I'm going on a holiday to good ole London tomorrow; when I come back I'll see how it works and report back.

Your water wasn't HCl was it?

LOL, I immediately thought of that too. It'Of course, HCl and zinc give of hydrogen gas; this would explain why the thing heated up (but of course, where would the acid come from? )

Magnesium is just a metal, it won't magically ignite from a current passed through it unless the current heats it to the point it will react with whatever environment it is in.

Well I never thought it would, I just don't know enough about physics to know at what current it will ignite. I'll make a circuit in which I can put a variable resistance, then. I'll try a few things out. Thanks!