FIREBALLS and THUNDER!!!

Have you ever see thunder in a test tube?

Interesting right?  Let's do it together then. 

Firstly, set up the apparatus like this

A boiling tube is clamped to a retort stand. Then, add concentrated sulphuric acid followed by ethanol on top of the sulphuric acid. Prevent them from mixing. The experiment set-up is left aside for a few minutes until two layers in seen. 

After that, a small amount of potassium permanganate and observe!

This is what you will see~ Thunder!

 Reaction starting soon!

See the sparks and at the end... Black precipitate...

Internal combustions of ethanol, producing sound, light similar to that of lightning, The sulfuric acid and the permanganate react to form manganese heptoxide, which explodes when it comes into contact with the alcohol or acetone. The reaction looks bit like a thunderstom in a test tube.

Fireball! Can I touch it?

Lets find out whether we can touch a fireball. 

Everyone know that fire is hot and when an object is on fire, its hot and we knew that we cannot touch it with bare hands. BUT this time its WRONG! HAHA

This experiment should not carry out at home... 

Firstly, soak the cotton ball in alcohol. Then light up the cotton ball. 

Now you can try to hold it with barehands...

On hands!

Alcohol burn in a very low boiling point. So the temperature is not high and thus we can still touch the cotton ball although it is still burning.

Interesting right? So we shouldn't be selfish... Haved combined meeting with the lower form as well to share this interesting experiments~

Crowded with members~

Exco in-charge~

21.2.2013

Shiuan Yih.