Did you know that water can burn?

[Guest]

So I wonder how many people will try this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K70JzbIgVIE

[helicopper 1,050]

I can see the headlines now...

"Sudden increase in fire calls attributed to YouTube science experiment..."

"Duracell to put warning labels on battery packages - "Do Not Immerse in Water and Ignite"...

I just wonder - who comes up with this stuff? They have entirely too much time on their hands!

[ajsbear 11]

Chris ---You know at least a dozen people on this site will try it. OK Line up!

OK I know I should not encourage this behavior.

Edited October 17, 2007 by ajsbear

[Doc 11]

Here Comes the Science:

The batteries induce electrolysis of the water into hydrogen gas and oxygen. A small amount of the hydrogen gas and oxygen intercalates in the water (much as CO2 is retained in soda). The concentration of the gases at the water's surface is a mixture that is just in the flamable range and because the gasses slowly diffuse from the water, it has a wick-like effect.

This is a reduction / oxidation process as the anode and cathode of the battery exchange electrons with the molecules in the water, breaking the H-O bonds. A similar reaction (though the oxidation predominates) happens when wet magnesium burns. Magnesium burns so hot that the water molecules are again broken down to H2 and O2. That's why hitting a burning magnesium engine block ( or a magnesium seat frame in certain Chrysler cars) with water is a HORRIBLE idea. You generate a highly explosive conflagration as the magnesium (which emits UV light that can damage your eyes) and hydrogen gas burn in the presence of oxygen. The hydrogen flame, which burns in ambient air at approximately 3800 degrees is considerably hotter than most burning hydrocarbon fuels. The added oxygen will crank this up to over 5000 degrees - in the range of a MIG welder - enough to melt steel - so as you keep adding water it keeps burning.

Science lesson over.

NOW BE CAREFUL!!!

[ny10570 745]

Enough water and you can over whelm the burning magnesium and the heat out of the fire.

[Bunkers 0]

thanks for the lesson, Dr. Doc!

[helicopper 1,050]

Here Comes the Science:

The batteries induce electrolysis of the water into hydrogen gas and oxygen. A small amount of the hydrogen gas and oxygen intercalates in the water (much as CO2 is retained in soda). The concentration of the gases at the water's surface is a mixture that is just in the flamable range and because the gasses slowly diffuse from the water, it has a wick-like effect.

This is a reduction / oxidation process as the anode and cathode of the battery exchange electrons with the molecules in the water, breaking the H-O bonds. A similar reaction (though the oxidation predominates) happens when wet magnesium burns. Magnesium burns so hot that the water molecules are again broken down to H2 and O2. That's why hitting a burning magnesium engine block ( or a magnesium seat frame in certain Chrysler cars) with water is a HORRIBLE idea. You generate a highly explosive conflagration as the magnesium (which emits UV light that can damage your eyes) and hydrogen gas burn in the presence of oxygen. The hydrogen flame, which burns in ambient air at approximately 3800 degrees is considerably hotter than most burning hydrocarbon fuels. The added oxygen will crank this up to over 5000 degrees - in the range of a MIG welder - enough to melt steel - so as you keep adding water it keeps burning.

Science lesson over.

NOW BE CAREFUL!!!

That's exactly what I was going to say!!!

Thanks, Doc!!

[Doc 11]

Enough water and you can over whelm the burning magnesium and the heat out of the fire.

Yes. If you provide enough water to effectively cool the burning magnesium and the resulting fire, you can quench the reaction and the fire! It's always exciting when something in a burning car starts blazing like a camera flashbulb and every time you start hitting it with the line, it gets brighter. The best tactic I've found is to stop hitting it until you can directly see what's burning and hit it directly with the stream- then let it have it until it stops burning and for a little bit after, to get the temperature down.

[FFD941 20]

Recently tried this in my Chemistry class at Dutchess Community College and for some reason nothing happened. Any Sugestions

[Guest]

Its prob vodka or straight alcohol, not water.

Edited December 8, 2007 by NRFDTL11Buff

[Guest]

I see that they already pulled it off of youtube already.

[paratrooper75 41]

Its alcohol, not water. Kind of like the video of the guy powering a 27" tv with a set of RCA cables and a AAA battery. False!!

[50-65 205]

I didn't see the video, but I had a friend who insisted that his wife could burn water.

He showed me one night at his house. He took a 2 liter soda bottle and filled it from the tap. As bubbles rose to the surface he lit it with a lighter. It burned a nice blue flame for several seconds.

Apparently, when the well was drilled, it passed through a small vein of natural gas that was mixing with the water. No different taste but cool to watch.

[SageVigiles 1,194]

Its impossible to make normal water burn though. H20 cannot oxidize, therefore it cannot technically "burn."

[xfirefighter484x 234]

I am not sure whether or not the batteries provided enough "juice" to produce electrolysis.

This procedure actually DOES work with enough electricity. I did it in my 8th grade science class as an experiment (yes it was part of the lesson plan, I didn't just throw electrical current into water, lol!). There was a beaker filled with water, and an inverted catch-basin, if you want to call it that, above the beaker. As the gases were produced, they built up ABOVE the beaker (Hydrogen is lighter than air, i.e. Hindenberg and other airships of days yore.....).

A when ignited, a nice flash was produced!