Ignition of Hydrogen in a Platinum Catalyst
Description: A gentle flow of hydrogen gas is passed through a tube and over a wad of platinized vermiculite or asbestos. The gas ignites with a pop and continues to burn. The ignition may be repeated several times.
Source: UW Card Catalog
Year: N/A Vol: N/A Page: N/A
Keywords: Activation energy, Catalysis, Kinetics, Thermochemistry
Rating: 
Hazard: High
- Flammability hazard
- Explosion hazard
- Burn hazard
- Asphyxiation hazard
- Carcinogenicity hazard
- Chronic toxicity hazard
- Inhalation hazard
Effectiveness: Good
- Results are clearly observable without guidance
- Clear contrast between systems behavior
- Somewhat connected conceptually to course material
- Low failure rate
- Time to result is low
Difficulty: Medium
- Some sequential manipulations
- Demos at non-standard conditions
- Use of reactive substances
- Use of toxic substances
- Prior training recommended
Safety Precautions:
- Eye protection required
- Gloves required
- ABC fire extinguisher on hand
- Thermal gloves required
- Perform in well-ventilated area
- No flammable materials in range
- Perform on flame-resistant surface
Class: Kinetics, Transition Metals
Division: General, Inorganic Chemistry
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