Simon Cotton is back in the spotlight this week with a new venture. The initiative is about the igniting of magnesium ribbon in a Bunsen fire. The hot magnesium gives oxygen molecules enough energy to split up, breaking the strong O=O double bond. This is why magnesium is used in signal flares. Meera Senthilingam and Simon Cotton are teaming up on a project to develop magnesium oxide-based magnesium dioxide based signal flares. The experiment is based on a piece of magnesium that was lowered into the Bunsen area and lit up. The result is a white ash, resulting in granularity that quickly broke down to ashes.
