The depth of a magnesium particle penetrating into a lance tip hot metal during a magnesium injection process was described by a mathematical model. The simulation incorporated the mechanical interaction and heat transfer between particles, magnesium particle size, carrier gas flow rate, lance inside diameter, and hot metal temperature. The penetrability of a magnesium particle into lance tip hot metal was analyzed using a penetration factor suggested below:Penetration factor=Penetration depth of a magnesium particle in hot metal before particle vaporization-Radius of magnesium vapor bubble in hot metal formed by the magnesium particle.In a magnesium injection process, the operational variables that favor a better penetration of the magnesium particle into the hot metal are larger size of particles, smaller internal diameter of the injecting lance, deeper injection, higher carrier gas flow rate and lower hot metal temperature. The influences of the thickness of lance refractory shell, the lance height above the bath surface and magnesium feeding rate on the penetrability are insignificant.