During the break, I conducted various experiments using paper, ink and pure magnesium flakes. Magnesium is number 12 on the periodic table, and is formed in space when Super Massive Stars explode and go supernova.
I had seen a few water colour and salt experiment where salt crystals are dropped onto the paint and overtime they create star-like shapes as they leech the pigment from the surrounding paper.
My experiments however, were abysmal! The magnesium would not dissolve in the ink and over time became really sticky and gooey. I had to dissolve the flakes in a little water first, and then add them to the ink. Two months later and the ink is still not dry where it has mixed with the magnesium, which I’ve somehow managed to get into my keyboard of my laptop so walk away from work or research with black smudges on my fingers.
Something that is not visible in these photos was that where the magnesium has gone a slight shade of dark orange, held at angles to the light, this orange is actually metallic looking.
The water in the magnesium mix didn’t behave well on the paper either – perhaps I should have used a hot-pressed or cold-pressed water colour paper that can hold water more readily.
Debbie New 