Ignition of Thermite Using the Potassium Chlorate “Rocket” Reaction: A Systematic Demonstration of Reaction Chemistry

• Brett A. McGuire ^[1] ; P. Brandon Carroll ^[2] ; Adam N. Boynton ^[2] ; Jeffrey M. Mendez ^[2] ; Geoffrey A. Blake ^[2]
  1. [1] National Radio Astronomy Observatory

     National Radio Astronomy Observatory

     Estados Unidos

     
  2. [2] California Institute of Technology

     California Institute of Technology

     Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 92, Nº 6, 2015, págs. 1117-1120
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • 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 H2SO4 with sugar, (2) the decomposition of KClO3, and (3) the reaction of H2SO4 with KClO3. These three basic reactions are then combined as a pyrotechnic chlorate demonstration in which H2SO4 is used to ignite a KClO3 + sugar mixture. It is finally shown that this latter reaction is very effective for igniting the highly exothermic thermite redox reaction.