Description of experiment
Below follows a plain text transcript of the selected experiment.
Needed compounds:
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sulphur : S8
potassium chlorate : KClO3
Class:
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elem=S,Cl
redox
Summary:
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Potassium chlorate and sulphur form a potentially explosive mixture, which
is quite sensitive to shock.
Description:
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Take a SMALL amount of potassium chlorate and make a fine powder of this (if
it is not already sold as fine powder).
Also take a SMALL amount of finely powdered sulphur and CAREFULLY mix the
potassium chlorate and sulphur on a small piece of paper. Preferrably do this
outside on a place where accidental ignition of the mixture does no real harm.
Put the mix on a concrete tile and hit with a hammer: You will hear a very
loud bang, when the mixture explodes.
Remark:
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The amounts to be used should be really small. A pile of mix with a size of
approximately 5 mm x 5 mm and a height of two or three mm gives a loud bang
already. Better start with too small amounts than with too large amounts!