Details Take 12 After 12 attempts spread over a two day time period, the AP Chemistry class at SHHS successfully ignited three thermite reactions of varying size and dangerousness. First, students put goggles on. We didn’t want to end up like Carol. Research was conducted to identify correct ratios of Aluminum and Iron Oxide. For our purposes we used a ratio of 7:3, 7 being Iron Oxide. Do the math if you want. Problem The main problem we had was lighting the Iron Oxide and Aluminum mixture. Initially our thoughts were to use a magnesium fuse but the fuse either went out before it reached the mixture, or didn’t light the mixture. Our solution, was to use the heat from Potassium permanganate reacting with Glycerin (1,2,3-propanetriol) to ignite the compound. 14KMnO4 + 4C3H5(OH)3 --> 7K2CO3 + 7Mn2O3 + 5CO2 + 16H2O Scoring guide +2 pts for goggles +2 pts for correct ratios +1 pt for standing back when the reaction goes -3 pts for going up to the smoldering reaction because “the smoke was gone” +1 pt for taping the flower pot together (BONUS pts for using gaffers tape) +3^3 pts for actually getting the Thermite to light ---------------- 33 total points out of 36 possible = 91.66% * AP scaling factor of whatever we needed to get 100% = a grand total of 100% Thermite
Stats Keepin’ it hot  Thermite Watch it: Movie Page Iron (III) Oxide (Fe2O3) Aluminum (Al) Reaction Type: Aluminothermic a.k.a. VERY EXOTHERMIC Al Melting Point: 660 Al Boiling Point: 2519 Temp Reached: 2500 ΔH: -851.5 kJ/mol Fe2O3(s) + 2Al(s) → Al2O3(s) + 2Fe(s)Movie.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enthalpy_changehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enthalpy_changeshapeimage_3_link_0shapeimage_3_link_1shapeimage_3_link_2
Staff Umm.. yea Mr. Smith Chemist extraordinaire. (Makes sure we don’t die)  Jon R Pyromaniac. He makes the Thermite. (and the danger)  Dan S Camera-man. Like photography, so this is almost like a photo  Scott Sparkler go-to guy even though they didn’t work; not like they were actually in the school. Right?  Other Favourites Liquid Nitrogen (the best floor cleaner) Sugar, sodium chlorate and sulfuric acid. (also very exothermic) Peanut explosion Downloads Take a look Editing MPG file: http://tigertimes.org/thermite.mpg Raw AVI file: ((from Sully’s server)) http://71.192.203.106:5080/Thermite!.AVI Again, a link to the flash file: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOBElpi-OtUhttp://tigertimes.org/thermite.mpghttp://71.192.203.106:5080/Thermite!.avihttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOBElpi-OtUshapeimage_4_link_0shapeimage_4_link_1shapeimage_4_link_2
No, not our lab.. we thought it would be tacky to melt the school
This website created by Brian Michalski, bmichalski@gmail.com a member of SHHS ’06 and the AP Chem Classmailto:bmichalski@gmail.comshapeimage_8_link_0