Kinetics- Explosive Reaction Between Hydrogen and Oxygen

Explosive Reaction of Hydrogen and Oxygen

Professor John Moore and assistant performing demonstration with gas tanks and lit torch
Professor John Moore and assistant performing demonstration with gas tanks and lit torch
 

Description:

A) Balloons filled with hydrogen alone, oxygen alone, and a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen are ignited.

B) Soap bubbles are filled with a mixture of hydrogen-oxygen and ignited.

C) A special cannon is filled with mixture of hydrogen-oxygen, corked, and ignited, using a spark-plug built into the cannon.

This demonstration is also available on video and JCE “Chemistry Comes Alive!”  Vol.1 CD-Rom.

Source: Shakhashiri, B.Z. Chemical Demonstrations: A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry

Year: 1983  Vol: 1 Page: 106

Keywords: Hydrogen, Oxygen, Balloons, Soap bubbles, Cannon

Rating:

Hazard: Medium

  • Flammability hazard
  • High noise explosion
  • Electric shock hazard
  • Slip hazard
  • Explosion hazard

Effectiveness: Excellent

  • Results are clearly observable without guidance
  • Good connection from demo to course material
  • Profound effects are observed
  • Time to results is low
  • High reliability

Difficulty: Medium

Ver. A)

  • Simple procedures
  • Some intermediate steps to results
  • Simple manipulation for most to perform

Ver. B)

  • Simple procedures
  • Some intermediate steps to results
  • Precise manipulations required
  • Simultaneous manipulations required
  • Prior practice recommended
  • Two performer demo optional

Ver. C

  • Simple procedures
  • Some intermediate steps to results
  • Simple manipulations for most to perform

Safety Precautions:

  • Eye protection required
  • Ear protection required
  • ABC fire extinguisher on hand
  • Ceiling higher than three meters
  • Use UL approved three-prong plug and outlet
  • Avoid high voltage end of coil
  • Use caution when employing soap during demonstration

Class: Main Group Chemistry, Stoichiometry, Thermochemistry, Groups IA, IIA, and IIIB  (1, 2, and 13), Kinetics

Division: General, Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry

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