How Things Work on Instagram: "A magnesium fire reacts violently with water because burning magnesium is hot enough to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen feeds the fire, while the hydrogen ignites instantly, causing flare-ups or explosions instead of cooling. Magnesium burns at temperatures above 3,000°C, far hotter than water can suppress. Pouring water adds fuel, not suppression. These fires are extinguished by cutting off oxygen using dry sand or Class D fire extinguis