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The addition of CO to the $Mg+N2O$ reaction has previously been $reported1$ to enhance the resulting MgO chemiluminescence and to increase the intensity of the forbidden. Mg atom $(3P1\to 1SO)$ transition at 457.1 nm. This work examines the role of metastable Mg ($\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">3</mrow>}p$) atoms, produced directly in a low voltage discharge, in the $Mg+N2O$ reaction. Although the metastables are efficiently quenched by the addition of $N2O$, preliminary experiments Indicate the Mg ($\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">3</mrow>}p$) is not the key reactant leading to MgO $(B1\Sigma -X1\Sigma )$ chemilumiescence in the $Mg+N2O$ reaction.