Description of experiment
Below follows a plain text transcript of the selected experiment.
Needed compounds:
-----------------
sulphur : S8
aluminum : Al
potassium bromate : KBrO3
phosphorus red : P
Class:
------
elem=Al,P,S,Br
organic
redox
Summary:
--------
Potassium bromate reacts with aluminium powder with a very bright light and
with crackling noise, but the mix is not like flash powder. Some sulphur is
needed for easy ignition of the mix.
When a tiny amount of red phosphorus is added to the mix, then it is ignited
even more easily, but then it also burns exceptionally fast, almost
explosively.
Description:
------------
Mix finely powdered potassium bromate with aluminium (powder, 400 mesh) and
sulphur (powder, flowers of sulphur). Amounts are not critical, take 3 volumes
of potassium bromate powder, one volume of aluminium powder and one volume of
sulphur. ONLY USE SMALL QUANTITIES, total mix not more than 100 mg!! Ignite
some of the mix (10 mg or so) with a flame of an alcohol burner: The mix is
easily ignited and burns with a very bright white light, giving white sparks
which are sprayed around. The mix makes a crackl
Add a tiny pinch of red phosphorus and mix this with the other mix (don't
grind, gently shake on a piece of aluminium foil). Take 10 mg or so of this mix
and ignite in the flame of an alcohol burner: The mix very easily ignites and
burns very fast, almost explosively.
Prepare a test tube, full of chlorine gas and carefully throw appr. 25 mg of
the KBrO3/Al/S/P mix in the chlorine gas, using a metal spatula: The mix
explodes with a soft "THUMP" sound and an incredibly bright white flash. This
is really impressive!
REMARK: Always be prepared that the mix can be ignited by friction, so be very
careful when mixing the chemicals and use long metal spatula's for taking some
of the mix from the foil, in which it is created by shaking. If there is any
need to grind one of the components of the mix, then do this with separate
chemicals. Never grind a mix of potassium bromate with one of the other
compounds.