Spectroscopic study of the combustion of solitary magnesium particles in air and in carbon dioxide

The combustion spectra of loose magnesium particles in air and in carbon dioxide at atmospheric pressure are investigated. Experimental graphs of the combustion time as a function of the initial particle size are plotted. It is shown that the luminescence time of the metal and oxide vapors are always shorter than the total particle luminescence time. It is observed for the first time that the magnesium oxide vapor disappears before the vapor of the metal itself when combustion takes place in carbon dioxide gas. This is attributable to the fact that the rate of the gas-phase reaction of magnesium with carbon dioxide decreases as the production of carbon monoxide increases during the combustion stage.