Did you know oxygen isn’t necessary to create fire? See a cool experiment with dry ice and magnesium that reveals the fiery reactivity of carbon, not oxygen.

Video Summary

To create this burning magnesium reaction, a block of dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide), magnesium, and a blow torch (or Bunsen burner) are needed. Simply carve a cavity in the block of ice and fill it with magnesium about a third of the way full. You can use a blow torch to start the magnesium and carbon reaction. This demonstration shows that oxygen isn’t always necessary to create fire.