Video Demo: Reaction Chamber

This is a demo that I only show the video. This is an example of what happens in the reaction chamber of a liquid fuel rocket. I use about 100 ml of denatured alcohol. I pour it into the 5 gallon plastic bottle. I swirl it around vigorously, trying to speed up the evaporation of the alcohol. I pour out the excess liquid alcohol. I then set the bottle on the counter, making sure it is flat. With a candle attached to the end of the meter stick, I insert the candle in the opening of the bottle. Again, I only show the video of this to my students and don’t do it live. It demonstrates the volatile reaction that occurs with oxygen in the air. The resultant hot gasses funnel through the opening (nozzle on a rocket) at a higher speed. This demo also shows when the particles of a chemical are spread out (increased surface area), the speed of a reaction increases.

ONLY TEACHER DEMO! I ONLY RECOMMEND TO TEACHERS THAT THEY ONLY SHOW THIS VIDEO IN CLASS AND DON’T DO THE DEMO IN CLASS. NEVER, EVER USE A GLASS BOTTLE! ONLY USE A PLASTIC BOTTLE.