If...

...you put thermite in a microwave, would it ignite?

No. If you can get a hold of a magnesium strip, you can light that and use it to light the thermite.

Thermite is merely iron oxide and aluminum dust in a binder.  They will react quite strongly, hence "thermite" ... but you have to start them off with a rather high-temp igniter.  That's what the magnesium strip is for.

If you must try this at home, use only small amounts, do it outside and away from all flammables like gas lines, and on fairly thick concrete.

Do not, under ANY circumstances, set off a wad of thermite on top of your little brother's head.

OP here, my question remains unanswered. Would the sparks created (if created at all) as a result of the metal in the microwave cause thermite to ignite?

>>2

No, the microwave heats water molecules up by making them vibrate.  No water = no heating.

>>5
Yes, i missed that.

>>6
Put aluminium foil in a microwave and watch what happens.

>>6
Why don't you put some aluminum foil in the microwave, as >>7 has said. If it only vibrates water molecules, surely it would not do anything to the aluminum foil.

Slightly off topic but has anyone tried using sparklers to light thermite? I heard someplace railway track workers used to use them.

Here's why. As its name implies, a microwave oven uses intense microwaves to heat and cook food. Like any electromagnetic wave, a microwave consists of electric and magnetic fields. When the strong microwaves produced by a microwave oven interact with a sheet of aluminum foil, their electric fields cause the mobile electrons in the foil to accumulate at the sheet's sharp, pointed tips. This build-up of electrons creates a strong electric field in the surrounding air. When the electric field becomes strong enough it causes free electrons in the air to accelerate and jar loose more electrons from gas molecules in the air, which then go on to jar even more electrons loose. This chain reaction creates an electrical charge in the air, which shows itself as sparks. Although rounded metal objects such as spoons are less likely to create sparks, the safest bet is to avoid putting any kind of metal in the microwave.

>>10
Why doesn't visible light's electric field do the same?

>>11
Not enough mana.

>>1
maybe, it's made of metal that may spark in the microwave.  why don't you give it a try and tell us how it works out?