Thermite Reaction Lab Report
Thermite
Background:
Thermite is a powder made from aluminum powder and a metal oxide [usually iron oxide (Fe2O3, known as rust)]. The thermite reaction is a redox reaction, where Aluminum reduces the oxide of another metal. For example, when using iron oxide (as I did) the equation would be Fe2O3(s) + 2 Al(s) -> Al2O3(s) + 2 Fe(l). Black or blue iron oxide (Fe3O4) could also be used. Other examples of possible oxides are manganese thermite (MnO2), Cr2O3, and copper thermite (CuO). Aluminum can also be replaced by any reactive metal. Aluminum, however, is the safest material and the cheapest to use. Thermite, if you look at the equation, supplies it own oxygen, which means that it can burn under water or in oxygen depleted areas. This also means, however, that the thermite reaction cannot be smothered out and cannot be put out by throwing …show more content…
One variety is Thermate. Thermate burns faster and hotter. Thermate is created by combining thermite, sulfur, and barium nitrate. The thermate weight ratio is 69% thermite, 29% barium nitrate, 2% sulfur. There are many other variations of thermite, but thermate is the most common alternate form of thermite.
List of different ‘thermites’:
Iron (III) oxide (Red):
Fe2O3(s) + 2Al(s) → Al2O3(s) + 2Fe(l); ΔH = -847.6 kJ/mol
The ratio of Iron (III) oxide to Aluminum powder by mass is about 3:1. This is the reaction I chose to do.
Iron (II, III) oxide (Black):
3Fe3O4(s) + 8Al(s) → 4Al2O3(s) + 9Fe(l); ΔH = -3347.6 kJ/mol
The reaction using Fe3O4 (-3347.6kJ/mol) produces a substantially larger amount of energy than the reaction using Fe2O3 (-847.6kJ/mol). the weight ratio of Iron (II,III) oxide to Aluminum powder is about 3.2:1. I chose not to do this because of obvious reasons: EXTREMELY hot and much more dangerous. On a more scientific note, the Fe3O4 is known as ‘magnetide’. Magnetide is the most magnetic naturally occurring mineral on
Background:
Thermite is a powder made from aluminum powder and a metal oxide [usually iron oxide (Fe2O3, known as rust)]. The thermite reaction is a redox reaction, where Aluminum reduces the oxide of another metal. For example, when using iron oxide (as I did) the equation would be Fe2O3(s) + 2 Al(s) -> Al2O3(s) + 2 Fe(l). Black or blue iron oxide (Fe3O4) could also be used. Other examples of possible oxides are manganese thermite (MnO2), Cr2O3, and copper thermite (CuO). Aluminum can also be replaced by any reactive metal. Aluminum, however, is the safest material and the cheapest to use. Thermite, if you look at the equation, supplies it own oxygen, which means that it can burn under water or in oxygen depleted areas. This also means, however, that the thermite reaction cannot be smothered out and cannot be put out by throwing …show more content…
One variety is Thermate. Thermate burns faster and hotter. Thermate is created by combining thermite, sulfur, and barium nitrate. The thermate weight ratio is 69% thermite, 29% barium nitrate, 2% sulfur. There are many other variations of thermite, but thermate is the most common alternate form of thermite.
List of different ‘thermites’:
Iron (III) oxide (Red):
Fe2O3(s) + 2Al(s) → Al2O3(s) + 2Fe(l); ΔH = -847.6 kJ/mol
The ratio of Iron (III) oxide to Aluminum powder by mass is about 3:1. This is the reaction I chose to do.
Iron (II, III) oxide (Black):
3Fe3O4(s) + 8Al(s) → 4Al2O3(s) + 9Fe(l); ΔH = -3347.6 kJ/mol
The reaction using Fe3O4 (-3347.6kJ/mol) produces a substantially larger amount of energy than the reaction using Fe2O3 (-847.6kJ/mol). the weight ratio of Iron (II,III) oxide to Aluminum powder is about 3.2:1. I chose not to do this because of obvious reasons: EXTREMELY hot and much more dangerous. On a more scientific note, the Fe3O4 is known as ‘magnetide’. Magnetide is the most magnetic naturally occurring mineral on