Magnesium

Magnesium is the lightest of all structural metals, approximately four times lighter than steel, though it is extremely flammable. It is produced either by electrolysis of molten magnesium chloride derived from seawater or brine, or by the Pidgeon process, in which dolomite is reduced with ferrosilicon at high temperatures under vacuum. Its primary applications are as an alloying element in aluminium alloys for aerospace and automotive use, where small magnesium additions dramatically improve strength and corrosion resistance; as a reductant in the Kroll process for titanium production; in lightweight structural castings; and in incendiary and pyrotechnic applications, such as in Magnesium Buckshot. Magnesium fires cannot be suppressed with water, which reacts violently with the burning metal, and require specialist dry powder or sand suppression.