Dangers of KClO3/P mixes
Potassium chlorate and red phosphorus, when mixed with each other, form an exceptionally dangerous composition. This composition is called Armstrong's mix. This mix is extremely friction and shock sensitive. The sensitivity is demonstrated as follows:
- Take a few mg of solid KClO3 and put this on a clean glass surface.
- Take a few mg of red phosphorus and put this on or near the KClO3.
- Carefully mix the two chemicals.
- Tap the mix of the two chemicals with a little stick or rod. Only gentle tapping is needed to ignite the mix.
Below follow some pictures of a mix, which ignites after gentle tapping.
A video of an igniting mix be downloaded: KClO3+P. Download size is just over 3 MByte.
Remark: If you want to repeat this experiment, then use VERY small quantities. This is foolish, when done in quantities over 50 mg. You will maim yourself if larger quantities are used!