Video Demo: Fire Hand

This is one of my favorite demos with students.  Students get to hold methane bubbles in their hand and then experience the exothermic reaction when it reacts with oxygen in the air.  The look on their faces is pure amazement. 

Comments

[Excited Neuron]

Wow. That is a really cool demo. I teach high school biology, but it's so cool, I'm determined to find a way to incorporate it somehow. Thanks for sharing! I love your site.

[Darren Fix]

Thanks. It's one of my favorites.

[TeachSci7]

I just found your website. I absolutely love it. I do have one question: Where did you get the methane to make the bubbles?

[Darren Fix]

The methane comes from the gas jets that are in my classroom. Propane/butane canisters can also be used.

[Anna]

I am a pre-service teacher and would like to teach middle school students. This experiment is very fun to watch and seems to be safe since the heat rises. Is it really safe to let your middle school students hold these buddles? Is this an experiment you had to recieve special permission to do?

[Darren Fix]

Anna, I do it each year with my middle school students. I never use a permission slip. Try it out on yourself first to see what it feels like. Rule of thumb is always do it moderation. Don't use a huge amount of bubbles because it will generate a large amount of heat. Keep it a smaller amount like in the video.

[Bill Ssdler]

I would always be sure my department chair, or an administrator was aware of anything that I was doing like this in my classroom. Accidents can happen. You want to be sure students are well back, only as a demo in a grade school classroom. With the warning do not do this at home.