Buy or make magnesium (local only)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around sourcing magnesium for a demonstration involving a flameless heater, with participants exploring local options for purchase and potential methods for creating magnesium themselves. The context includes practical applications and challenges related to time constraints for a presentation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks local sources in Florida for purchasing magnesium, mentioning a time constraint for a presentation.
  • Suggestions include checking local camping or military surplus stores for flameless ration heaters and contacting chemical supply companies.
  • Another participant mentions the high cost of magnesium from a local supplier and proposes using magnesium oxide mixed with hydrochloric acid, followed by electrolysis to produce magnesium.
  • A counterpoint is raised regarding the impracticality of the proposed electrolysis method, emphasizing the need for molten compounds and the challenges of reducing magnesium in water.
  • Participants suggest alternative sources of magnesium, such as old lawnmower decks, bull floats, and magnesium anode rods from hot water heaters, noting that many parts may be alloys rather than pure magnesium.
  • One participant highlights the effectiveness of a specific magnesium fire starter for practical use.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of suggestions for sourcing magnesium, but there is no consensus on the feasibility of creating magnesium through the proposed chemical methods. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to obtain magnesium in a timely manner.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge limitations in their proposed methods, including the practicality of electrolysis and the distinction between pure magnesium and alloys in suggested sources.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in practical chemistry demonstrations, sourcing materials for educational purposes, or exploring alternative methods for obtaining magnesium may find this discussion relevant.

Shelnutt2
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Hey guys,

I'm on a bit of a time crunch here, I have to have everything buy Wednesday (10/27). I've been asked to give a presentation on food in the classroom at a meeting on Wednesday. What I normally like to do is a demonstration involving a Flameless heater. I just use the same technique as the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flameless_ration_heater" . Mg + 2H20 -> Mg(OH)2 + H2 . Usually I just buy some magnesium, or magnesium + aluminum online, however with my time crunch I don't really have the ability this time. So what I'd like to know is if A) Anyone knows of a place in Florida locally to get Magnesium, and B) Can I make magnesium from anything? I've read up on that homedepot sometimes offers magnesium/calcium for use in concrete. There is also "lime", where is a calcium/magnesium mix. Is there any easy way to separate the calcium out? Does anyone have any other ideas?


Thanks!
 
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MATLABdude said:
Could you go to a local camping / military surplus store and buy a flameless ration heater? (may or may not come with an MRE)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flameless_ration_heater

I'd also take a look at your Yellow Pages under Chemical Supply or Scientific Supply--if nothing, some of the early calls might lead to someone who *does* know a local supply. The Google search seems to be rather hit or miss:
http://www.google.ca/search?q=chemical+supply+house+florida

We have a fisher scientific locally, but they want $40+ for 100-300g of magnesium.

An idea I was told about was to use magnesium oxide, which you can get from any nutrition place, such as a GNC. Mix it with hydocloric acid, to form MgCl + H20, then use electrolysis with carbon electrodes, to get Mg + C02 + HCL. Do you think this is a practical idea?
 
Shelnutt2 said:
We have a fisher scientific locally, but they want $40+ for 100-300g of magnesium.

An idea I was told about was to use magnesium oxide, which you can get from any nutrition place, such as a GNC. Mix it with hydocloric acid, to form MgCl + H20, then use electrolysis with carbon electrodes, to get Mg + C02 + HCL. Do you think this is a practical idea?

Not unless you have an arc furnace, a few tonnes of ore, money to pay for the electricity required to do the previous, and a few years to invest in refining the process. You can't do the electrolysis in water: you'll reduce the water before you reduce the magnesium. Any that you might happen to reduce (statistically, there might be a few atoms) will spontaneously react with the water anyways. The only way the electrolysis occurs is with the molten compound:
http://www.gcsescience.com/ex7.htm
http://www.tutorvista.com/topic/molten-magnesium-chloride-electrolysis

Long story short, the $40 is a bargain compared to the above--chalk it up as a learning lesson in keeping some stock on hand. That or buy the ration heater or go without the demo.
 
Lawn boy lawnmower decks used to be made from magnesium. Find an old used one. Bull floats for concrete finishing are made from magnesium as well. Magnesium anode rods are used in hot water heaters. http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ARISTON-Anode-Rod-1AYC2"
 
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chemisttree said:
Lawn boy lawnmower decks used to be made from magnesium. Find an old used one. Bull floats for concrete finishing are made from magnesium as well. Magnesium anode rods are used in hot water heaters. http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ARISTON-Anode-Rod-1AYC2"
Many parts that claim to be made of magnesium are actually alloys, and won't burn like the pure stuff. Bull-floats, for instance, are alloyed for toughness, abrasion-resistance and extra rigidity

The fire-starter that I linked is the pure stuff. Soft enough to cut shavings from, and it will burn hot enough to start fires with damp wood, bark, etc.
 
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How was your presentation?
 

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