Thermite Reaction – Smash! Bang! Boom!
Read the full experiment at http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/content/experiment/00000052 You’ve probably heard of rubbing two sticks together to make fire… but who would think of using large steel ball bearings to make fire?
Thermite is a reaction between Iron oxide(Fe2O3) and Aluminum(Al). Once the ignition temperature is reached, the potential bond with the aluminum is stronger then the potential bond with the iron, releasing Aluminum Oxide(Al2O3) and leaving the iron. Since the contact temperature for a instant exceeds the melting point of the iron, the reaction happens but there is not enough heat and fuel to sustain it, so it only stays active for that second and on that spot.
I was expecting a Mythbusters type thermite surprisingly.
Me to
Must it be a ball bearing?
all u need is rusty iron (iron oxide) and aluminium 🙂
your black finger-nail speaks volumes…
steve has kept me up for three years
Why are you looking at the reactions? Go back to watch the video!