Timeline for Why does hydrogen burn with a pop sound?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
5 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 2017 at 12:42 | comment | added | porphyrin | Presumably the reason the explosion is not bigger is that the explosive chain reaction depends on exact pressure/temp and composition. If you want to try a demo on this. Find a thin tin used for say granulated coffee, make a 2mm hole in lid and one in base for a rubber tube. Place on retort stand, fill with hydrogen from cylinder until you are sure its full, a minute or so, then remove tube close cylinder and get cylinder well away. Light hydrogen at hole in lid. Will burn then go out as it explodes. Lid is light , flies off, no damage. Have done this is lectures several times. Great fun. | |
| Apr 24, 2017 at 12:31 | comment | added | Buttonwood | @airhuff Your comment is completely justified. Had I written the chemical equation first... | |
| Apr 24, 2017 at 12:30 | history | edited | Buttonwood | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
Accounting for airhuff's very correct comment.
|
| Apr 23, 2017 at 23:41 | comment | added | airhuff | Big +1 for the first video illustrating the rapid expansion of the explosion (plus it's just really cool). The only nitpick I have is the first sentence of the second paragraph about the expansion due to the phase change. In the case of burning $\ce{H2}$ and $\ce{O2}$, we're converting gas to gas, and contracting from 3 moles down to 2 at that (2 hydrogens plus one oxygen going to just 2 waters) so I don't think that's relevant. But the rest of that paragraph hits it; the rapid thermal expansion in a confined area. Anyway, nice answer. | |
| Apr 23, 2017 at 21:56 | history | answered | Buttonwood | CC BY-SA 3.0 |