iron oxide

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mtg
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iron oxide

Post by mtg »

What's the prac using iron oxide and a ceramic plant pot? My senior Chem teacher wants to do a special demo for the end of year Year 11 students. Is it exothermic?
bigmack
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Re: iron oxide

Post by bigmack »

Sounds like a thermite reaction with Aluminium powder and Iron oxide powder . Start it off with a bit of magnesium ribbon .
Merilyn1
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Re: iron oxide

Post by Merilyn1 »

The plant pot got me confused! I had a teacher who used to use the small tuna cans - emptied out, of course. They were just the right size and were disposable. It was also good seeing what the thermite did to the can. Sit the can on a tripod which was placed in a metal tray filled with sand.
bigmack
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Re: iron oxide

Post by bigmack »

That sounds like a great way to demo it Merilyn .Can imagine the melting hot thermite dripping out the bottom of the tuna can :crazy:

The ceramic planter pot method .... you fill it with sand .... dry sand :thumbup:
Sand helps contain the heat from the reaction .... safety thing , like the ceramic pot . You could just put it in an evaporating basin but it will likely heat up and crack .

Sand must be dry . Aluminium powder doesn’t like being wet . And wet sand doesn’t like suddenly becoming very hot .

The Thermite mix is mounded up in the middle of the dry sand with a magnesium ribbon wick is lit .

So you’ll get bright light and flames . A few shooters out a meter radious . Best to do it on a concrete area or other non flammable space . Several meters from the spectators . I’d recommend 5 meters minimum ..... with safety googles .

Thats with about 20-50 gms of thermite.
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