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David E Speyer
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There is an obvious obstacle: the nonreduced scheme $k[x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_n]/\langle x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_n \rangle^2$ is $0$-dimensional, but can't be embedded in any space of dimension less than $n$. More generally, if there is a point whose Zariski tangent space has dimension $n$, then we need $n$ coordinates to embed the scheme. So, for example, if $A$ is the subring of $k[t]$ generated by the monomials $t^n$, $t^{n+1}$, $t^{n+2}$, ..., then $\mathrm{Spec} \ A$ is a reduced one dimensional scheme which can't be embedded in less than $n$ dimensions.

Replace "dimension" by "maximal dimension of any Zariski tangent space" and I think there should be a result like this.

David E Speyer
  • 156.2k
  • 14
  • 419
  • 763