Demonstrating Catalysis with a Bang!

TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 1 Issue 4 (1996), S1430-4171(96)04045-9

Demonstrating Catalysis with a Bang!

Greg Owens and Thomas G. Richmond*

Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112

Published online: 30 September1996

Abstract. A simple yet highly effective means of demonstrating the use of a standard Pd/C hydrogenation catalyst to initiate the explosive reaction of hydrogen and oxygen gases is reported. Addition of approximately 30 mg of 5% Pd/C to a one-liter plastic soda bottle containing a 1:1 hydrogen and oxygen mixture results in, after a brief induction period, a dramatic explosion that is louder than that of a similar mixture initiated by a flame.

Key Words: Laboratories and Demonstrations; demonstration; catalysis; hydrogen; oxygen; explosion

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: richmond@chemistry.utah.edu)

Article in PDF format (27 KB)

Supporting Materials:

bangsm.mov (2.7 MB) 10.1007/s00897960045b
bang2sm.mov (1.1 MB) 10.1007/s00897960045c
bangmed.mov (13 MB) 10.1007/s00897960045d
bang2med.mov (3.8 MB) 10.1007/s00897960045e

Editor’s note: The movie files bang and bang2 are produced in two versions. Files designated with sm are 160x120 resolution while med files are 320x200. All files include an audio track. Bang.mov and bangmed.mov show the catalysis initiated reaction. Bang2sm.mov and bang2med.mov are flame initiated detonations.