Published June 2015
| public
Journal Article
Ignition of Thermite Using the Potassium Chlorate "Rocket" Reaction: A Systematic Demonstration of Reaction Chemistry
Abstract
Presented here is a set of demonstrations that are used as visual tools for engaging students in a discussion of reaction chemistry and thermodynamics. Students are first shown a series of simple exothermic reactions: (1) the reaction of H_2SO_4 with sugar, (2) the decomposition of KClO_3, and (3) the reaction of H_2SO_4 with KClO_3. These three basic reactions are then combined as a pyrotechnic chlorate demonstration in which H_2SO_4 is used to ignite a KClO_3 + sugar mixture. It is finally shown that this latter reaction is very effective for igniting the highly exothermic thermite redox reaction.
Additional Information
© 2014 American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc. Published: December 22, 2014. B.A.M. gratefully acknowledges funding from a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. At the time of publication, B.A.M. was a Jansky Fellow at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 59002
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20150724-091906333
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
- Created
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2015-07-24Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-10Created from EPrint's last_modified field
- Caltech groups
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences