Activated metal low temperature reaction processes and products

A method for capturing a target element from a target source, the method comprising:

• providing a matrix comprising an activated metal consisting essentially of magnesium dispersed in a metal activating agent, by contacting a solid metal to be activated with the metal activating agent, and maintaining contact between the solid metal and the metal activating agent for a period of time sufficient for metal atoms from the solid metal to disperse in the metal activating agent, wherein the metal activating agent is selected from the group consisting of gallium, indium, tin, and a combination of two or more of the foregoing;
• and
• contacting the target source with the matrix, wherein:
• the target element is selected from the group consisting of carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, and a combination of two or more of the foregoing;
• the target source comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of a target carbon compound, a target sulfur compound, a target nitrogen compound, and a combination of two or more of the foregoing;
• and
• the activated metal reacts with the target source to produce a product selected from the group consisting of elemental carbon, elemental sulfur, elemental nitrogen, a transformed carbon compound transformed from the target carbon compound, a transformed sulfur compound transformed from the target sulfur compound, a transformed nitrogen compound transformed from the target nitrogen compound, and a combination of two or more of the foregoing.