Ethanol Cannon
- Page ID
- 128811
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Required Training |
Required PPE |
|---|---|
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UC Lab Safety Fundamentals |
Lab coat, safety glasses/goggles, nitrile gloves |
|
Equipment |
Chemicals |
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House built Ethanol Cannon (polyethylene bottles with nails) |
12-18 mL 100% Ethanol |
|
6 Corks to fit bottles (size 7) |
|
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Tesla Coil |
|
Procedure:
- Make sure the nail are in place (not touching inside the bottles)
- Pour 2-3 mL ethanol into each bottle
- Cork each bottle and set aside for ~2 minutes to establish enough vapor in the bottles
- Be sure the cannon is not pointed directly at any students or light fixtures
- Turn on the Tesla coil and touch the tip to one of the nails
- The corks will shoot out of the bottles
- To repeat, the bottles must be flushed with air in order to replenish oxygen
Discussion:
A small amount of ethanol liquid is placed in bottles that contain air. Some ethanol will vaporize, producing an explosive mixture of ethanol vapor and oxygen. Touching a nail with the Tesla coil produces a spark between each nail, causing the mixture to detonate, forcing the corks from the bottles.
C2H5OH (g) + 3 O2 (g) → 2 CO2 (g) + 3 H2O (g)
The explosion consumes all of the oxygen in the bottle, replacing it with carbon dioxide, so the demonstration cannot be repeated without flushing the bottle with air.
Hazards
Care should be taken to avoid damage to light fixtures or other objects because the corks are expelled with considerable force. The Tesla coil should be handled with care to avoid being shocked.
Disposal (by Storeroom)
Any remaining liquids can be flushed down the drain with water or left in the bottles to be disposed of by the storeroom.