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Mg, a very light (atomic weight 23?) and reactive metal that burns with intense light and heat, but only if there is sufficient surface area and it is not corroded. The problem with pure Mg is that it oxidises (a slow version of burning) very quickly and hence does not burn easily unless kept 'clean'. The Mg used in cars is an alloy, hence reducing the rate of corrosion and possibly reducing (or increasing!) its flammability.
Mg also has a relatively high ignition temperature, (relative to plastic) and hence it is unlikely to start a fire in a car, but rather burn as a symptom of a hot fire.
As for surface area, steel wool demonstrates the importance of surface area very well. Fine steel wool burns like a sparkler if ignited, where as you have bucklies chance of igniting an iron nail. The same goes for Mg, yes it will burn but it will be very difficult to ignite, particularly large chunks of Mg.
And as others have mentioned, what about the petrol tank and the incredibly toxic fumes given of by burning plastics, surely they are as dangerous if not more dangerous than Mg? If your seat was made out of Mg and it got hot enough to ignite....then you are almost certainly already dead or soon will be due to smoke inhalation and burns received before the Mg burnt.
Further more if Mg was so dangerous why is it used extensively in Racing cars and bikes where fires are frequent, military ships and in Aircraft where it usually is the fire that kills, not the crash? Surely Mg would have been banned in civilian aircraft along time ago.
And on a very different tact....think about the savings in fuel due to reduced weight in the car. This must be better for the environment. Then again, if I had a 'light' car I would merely drive it faster creating more pollutants!!!....Hey maybe this is why we observe Mg burning cars, the owners buy these lightweight cars to drive fast and hence have more serious accidents.
There it is...a solution...ban Mg not because it is flammable but because it encourages bad drivers to drive faster!
In most cases cars, and particularly new cars are very safe, it is the driver who should take more responsiblity for their own safety.
Justin99
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