Collapsing Aluminum Can
Description: Water is boiled in an aluminum can. The can is quickly inverted into a container of water, and the can spontaneously crushes.
This demonstration is available on video and JCE “Chemistry Comes Alive!” Vol.1 CD-Rom
Source: Institute for Chemical Education Fun with Chemistry: A Guidebook of K-12 Activities Vol. 1
Year: 1991 Vol: 1 Page: 159
Keywords: Water, Aluminum can, Pressure, Collapse, Vacuum
Rating: 
Hazard: Some
- Burn hazard
- Scald hazard
- Flammability hazard
- Electric shock hazard
Effectiveness: Good
- Results are observable without guidance
- Good connection to course material
- Low failure rate
- Time to results is medium
- Mild effects are seen by audience
- Small scale demonstration
Difficulty: Medium
- Timed manipulations
- Some intermediate steps to results
- Complex manipulations
- Demos at non-standard conditions
- Prior practice recommended
Safety Precautions:
- Hot gloves required
- Eye protection required
- Absorbent material on hand
- Flame resistant surface
- Use UL approved three-prong plug and outlet
- ABC fire extinguisher on hand
- Avoid exposure to open flame
Class: Gas Laws, Intermolecular Forces
Division: General, Physical Chemistry
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