Explosive Reaction of Hydrogen and Oxygen
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 hazard
- 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
- Simple intermediate steps to results
- Simple manipulations 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
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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