Cannon fire

Health & Safety notes
Eye protection for all.

This demonstration will cause splatters. Use a safety screen. Cover the bench with cardboard or paper towels.

All this requires an in-house risk analysis procedure to be carried out. Take suitable precautions. Do not rely on what is said here.
Read our standard health & safety notes.

Demonstration instructions
This demonstration can be part of an Energy Circus.

1 Add 30 ml 6% hydrogen peroxide to 20 ml ethanol in an evaporating basin on a heat proof mat.

2 Ignite the mixture with a splint and dim the lights.
Add 0.5g of potassium permanganate.
Loud bangs and flashes will follow.

This very effectively shows chemical potential energy changed into heat, light, sound and movement. The same demonstration can be used at KS5 to discuss redox reactions or at KS4 to discuss exothermic reactions.

Last updated: 31 January 2008