Methanol Cannon: Difference between revisions
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== | {| class="wikitable" style="color:black; background-color:#ddd; margin-left: auto; float:right" | ||
| [[Chemistry]]: | |||
| Combustion Reactions, Vortexes | |||
|- | |||
| Grade Range: | |||
| [[Elementary School]], [[Middle School]], [[High School]] | |||
|- | |||
| Format: | |||
| [[Stage]] | |||
|} | |||
The Methanol Cannon is a Science Theatre classic, and works for all ages. This demonstration does produce a large flame, so follow all safety precautions for this demonstration to minimize risk of injury. | |||
== | == Materials == | ||
* 5 Gallon Jug with Cork | |||
* Methanol | |||
* Centrifuge Tube | |||
* Tall Matches | |||
== | == Safety Precautions == | ||
Please read the Fire Safety section of the [[Demonstration Safety]] page before performing this demonstration. | |||
This demonstration requires: safety glasses, fireproof gloves | |||
When performing this demonstration, avoid bringing the bulk container of methanol if possible. Instead, bring a much smaller amount in a 50mL bottle. This will minimize any risk of accidental ignition. | |||
== Demonstration == | |||
# Put on the safety glasses. Measure out 5mL of Methanol using the centrifuge tube, and hold it aloft so the audience sees how little you are using. Pour the 5mL into the 5 gallon jug and cork it. Close the methanol container and remove it from the table, having it at least 5 feet from the table. | |||
# Pick up the jug and start swirling it to vaporize the contents. Explain what you are doing to the audience, and introduce the term ''Volatile''. | |||
# Have someone standing at the ready to turn off the lights in the room. Put on the gloves, light the long match, and hold it downward so the flame can creep up the stick. Ask for a countdown from 5: at 3, start pulling out the cork, and have the lights turn off at 1. Once the lights are off, pull the cork out completely and drop the match in. | |||
# After the fire happens, have the lights turn back on and explain the demonstration. | |||
== Why This Works == | |||
== | ===Short Explanation=== | ||
Methanol is a simple alcohol, and like all alcohols it is volatile. ''Volatile'' means that it will quickly vaporize while in the open, even if it isn't warm enough to boil. Alcohols are also very flammable, and release a lot of energy when they burn. This reaction only uses 5 mL of methanol, or about a tablespoon, and we still get a very big flame and a very loud whoosh when we light it! The flame we see is blue because of how hot this reaction is, and the reaction itself is a "clean" combustion reaction, since it only produces water, carbon dioxide and heat! | |||
An interesting additional fact about this reaction is the shape the fire has while burning. Some students might notice that the fire inside the jug is swirling. This happens because of two things: the hot air inside rushing out, and the cool, oxygen rich air rushing in. The air rushing out creates a ''Vortex'', or the "whirlpool" shape, to allow air to rush in and keep the reaction going! | |||
===Full Explanation=== | |||
'''''COMING SOON''''' | |||
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This is where you will explain the demonstration in full, and provide all additional information that pertains to the demo. Unlike the short explanation above, this should be worded so someone who is familiar with the topics might understand it. If needed, you can provide equations and citations for additional sources of information on the topic. This is also where you will find some answers for trickier questions, such as "How does a plane fly upside-down?" for the Bernoulli's Principle demo. If you want to add a floating box for equations, copy the following: | |||
{| class="wikitable" style="color:black; background-color:#ddd; text-align: center; margin: auto" | |||
| This will give you | |||
| a floating box. | |||
|- | |||
| The box will be | |||
| centered for you. | |||
|} | |||
--> | |||
== Additional Information == | |||
* This demonstration pairs well with the [[Nonburning Money]], the [[Candy Conflagration]], and the [[Potassium Permanganate And Glycerin]] demonstrations | |||
* This demonstration is a part of the [[Fire and Ice Show]] | |||
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Start out by warning the audience about the bright flash and loud noise and explaining that you have taken safety precautions - don't try this at home! | Start out by warning the audience about the bright flash and loud noise and explaining that you have taken safety precautions - don't try this at home! | ||
| Line 54: | Line 79: | ||
Combustion reactions power car engines! Spark plugs in a car ignite gasoline, another flammable chemical, to produce small combustion reactions that increase the pressure on the engine's pistons. This happens on a scale much smaller and much faster than in this demonstration - the combustion reactions are produced many times per second in the car. The machinery in the car converts thereby converts the chemical energy stored in the gasoline into mechanical energy to move the car. | Combustion reactions power car engines! Spark plugs in a car ignite gasoline, another flammable chemical, to produce small combustion reactions that increase the pressure on the engine's pistons. This happens on a scale much smaller and much faster than in this demonstration - the combustion reactions are produced many times per second in the car. The machinery in the car converts thereby converts the chemical energy stored in the gasoline into mechanical energy to move the car. | ||
--> | |||
Revision as of 16:38, 7 September 2016
| Chemistry: | Combustion Reactions, Vortexes |
| Grade Range: | Elementary School, Middle School, High School |
| Format: | Stage |
The Methanol Cannon is a Science Theatre classic, and works for all ages. This demonstration does produce a large flame, so follow all safety precautions for this demonstration to minimize risk of injury.
Materials
- 5 Gallon Jug with Cork
- Methanol
- Centrifuge Tube
- Tall Matches
Safety Precautions
Please read the Fire Safety section of the Demonstration Safety page before performing this demonstration.
This demonstration requires: safety glasses, fireproof gloves
When performing this demonstration, avoid bringing the bulk container of methanol if possible. Instead, bring a much smaller amount in a 50mL bottle. This will minimize any risk of accidental ignition.
Demonstration
- Put on the safety glasses. Measure out 5mL of Methanol using the centrifuge tube, and hold it aloft so the audience sees how little you are using. Pour the 5mL into the 5 gallon jug and cork it. Close the methanol container and remove it from the table, having it at least 5 feet from the table.
- Pick up the jug and start swirling it to vaporize the contents. Explain what you are doing to the audience, and introduce the term Volatile.
- Have someone standing at the ready to turn off the lights in the room. Put on the gloves, light the long match, and hold it downward so the flame can creep up the stick. Ask for a countdown from 5: at 3, start pulling out the cork, and have the lights turn off at 1. Once the lights are off, pull the cork out completely and drop the match in.
- After the fire happens, have the lights turn back on and explain the demonstration.
Why This Works
Short Explanation
Methanol is a simple alcohol, and like all alcohols it is volatile. Volatile means that it will quickly vaporize while in the open, even if it isn't warm enough to boil. Alcohols are also very flammable, and release a lot of energy when they burn. This reaction only uses 5 mL of methanol, or about a tablespoon, and we still get a very big flame and a very loud whoosh when we light it! The flame we see is blue because of how hot this reaction is, and the reaction itself is a "clean" combustion reaction, since it only produces water, carbon dioxide and heat!
An interesting additional fact about this reaction is the shape the fire has while burning. Some students might notice that the fire inside the jug is swirling. This happens because of two things: the hot air inside rushing out, and the cool, oxygen rich air rushing in. The air rushing out creates a Vortex, or the "whirlpool" shape, to allow air to rush in and keep the reaction going!
Full Explanation
COMING SOON
Additional Information
- This demonstration pairs well with the Nonburning Money, the Candy Conflagration, and the Potassium Permanganate And Glycerin demonstrations
- This demonstration is a part of the Fire and Ice Show