Black Snake Firework How to Use
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Black snake firework how to use Continue Posted at 5 p.m. in Blog Post by Brian Williams Here's a great way to do some science and learn about some of the chemistry behind the fireworks. Meet you: Black Snake Fireworks! Just in time for the Fourth of July. I have received a lot of application for scientific activities related to the Fourth of July and more specifically... fireworks! Many of you wanted to know the science behind fireworks and whether it is possible to create fireworks at home. In response to those requests, here's a great way to create some of those intriguing Black Snake fireworks seen every year at this time. This activity requires the use of fire and some flammable liquids, so adult supervision and safety precautions are a must (make sure you have a fire extinguisher or sand nearby)! Sand A high percentage alcohol (ethanol) – Use grain alcohol (e.g. Everclear) Powder sugar (sucrose) Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) A lighter grill or long-term aluminum foil or a foil cake plate First, let's start by making our mixture of baking soda and sugar. In a bowl, mix 4 tablespoons of powdered sugar with 1 tablespoon baking soda. Once you have those two ingredients well mixed, put the bowl aside. We'll use it later. Creates a mound of sand in the center of the foil plate/foot. Use your finger to indent in the middle of the sand mound. This is where you pour your alcohol and other ingredients. Use your finger to make a small indentation on a mound of sand. Measure 3 tablespoons of alcohol and pour carefully into the sangria. Now, let's add the baking soda and the sugar mixture. There are a couple of ways you can do this. Each path will give you a different type of snake(s). First, you can sprinkle 1 tablespoon of baking soda and the sugar mixture in the sangria on the sand mound. Another method is to pack 1 teaspoon of baking soda and sugar mixture in the measuring spoon. This will create a small spoon-shaped tablet that can fall into the indentation on the mound of sand. In any case, do not pack the mixture in the indentation. This is what your configuration should look like. Have an adult use a long match or grill lighter to light the alcohol. The flame will initially be very difficult to see (alcohol burns blue). However, you will know that it lights up when you see the baking soda and the sugar mixture begin to blacken as it burns. You can also smell something very familiar - roast marshmallows (which is sugar burning)! It will be a while before really start to grow, so be patient. After a while, you will see that the baking soda and sugar mixture begin to bubble. Gradually, the black snakes will begin to grow from the sand! Make sure the flame is out before attempting to touch or pick up the snake. When you've done it once, grade a little more baking soda and sugar and do it again. Just be sure to mix reform your mound of sand after each attempt. You will get different types of snakes every time! You'll get different shapes and sizes each time you do that activity. When baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) heats up, it produces a gas – carbon dioxide. This is the same gas that gives soda its fizz. In addition to carbon dioxide, baking soda also creates water vapour and sodium carbonate. When sugar (sucrose) heats up, it also creates carbon dioxide and water vapour. All that carbon dioxide has to go somewhere. It bubbles up and out of the mix. However, in doing so, it pushes the carbonate up and out of the sand. That's where the black snake(s) comes from! The snake is basically layer upon layer of that element we know and love - carbon! Related black snakes are popular fireworks novelties that are fun to light, sit and watch slip around. Use a punk or lighter to light the black snake, the resulting effect is a long black tube of fragile ash that snakes as it gets longer and longer. Because these items are considered fireworks novelties in most states, snakes don't have any fire or explosion, just a little smoke. Black fireworks snakes (sometimes called shiny worms) can be purchased from almost any fireworks seller or you can try your hand by making your own. It is not difficult at all, in fact, it is a great scientific experiment for you and your children or students You can make black snakes from common ingredients found in your kitchen, mainly baking soda and sugar plus alcohol, lighter fuel or other fuel. To make snakes, mix 4 parts powdered sugar (a fine sugar sometimes called confectionery sugar) with 1 part baking soda until evenly combined. Get a tray with edge and fill it with sand game box; this will be the basis of your black sandwich molds. Make small mounds of sand and then use a finger to make a depression in the middle of the sand. Fill this depression with fuel to wet it, then add some of the soda mixture to bake sugar. Use a lighter to light the materials and create the desired reaction - a swollen ash snake caused by carbon dioxide reacting with carbonate. The reason this project works is based on chemistry 101. Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is broken down into sodium carbonate, water vapour and carbon dioxide gas, while oxygen heating sugar produces water vapour and carbon dioxide gas. If used High quality alcohol as fuel, the release of smoke when ignited is not toxic at all. Making black snakes is a great project to undertake with children. Not only is it fun to mix the ingredients, but the lighting and observation of snakes are sure of illicit ooooohs, ahhhs, and maybe even that's so disgusting, it's great. If you want to see how homemade black snakes behave to commercials snakes, just put them side by side and see all the excitement it extrudes. Not to be confused with the carbon snake. A long form of carbon similar to a snake formed during the experiment. Black Snake is a term that can refer to two similar types of fireworks, the Pharaoh's snake and the sugar snake. Pharaoh's snake or pharaoh's snake is the original version of the black snake experiment. It produces a more impressive snake, but its execution depends on mercury thiocyanate (II), which is no longer in common use due to its toxicity. [1] For a sugar snake, baking soda and sugar are commonly used chemicals. [2] Once lit, both fireworks emit smoke and spit ashes that resemble a snake through an intumescent reaction. They remain on the ground and emit no sparks, flares, projectiles or sound. Pharaoh's Pharaoh's Snake Demonstration The Pharaoh's Snake is a more dramatic experiment, however, it requires more safety precautions than the sugar snake due to the presence of toxic mercury vapor and other mercury compounds. [1] History This reaction was discovered by Wuhler's team in 1821, shortly after the first synthesis of mercury thiocyanate. He was described as diverting from himself at the same time worm-like processes, often its old volume, from a very light material of graphite color. Awards[edit] For some time, a fireworks product called Pharaoschlangen was available to the public in Germany, but was eventually banned when the toxic properties of the product were discovered through the death of several children who had mistakenly consumed the resulting solid. [3] Pharaoh's snake experiment is conducted in the same way as the sugar snake experiment, however, the former uses mercury thiocyanate (II) (Hg(SCN)2) instead of baking soda powder sugar. This should be done in a smoke hood because all mercury compounds are dangerous. Chemical reactions After the reagents are ignited, mercury thiocyanate(II) is broken down to form mercury sulfide (II), carbon disulfide (CS2) and carbon nitride (C3N4). Graphic carbon nitride, a pale yellow solid, is the main component of ash. [1] 2 Hg(SCN)2(s) → 2 HgS(s) + CS2(l) + C3N4(s)[1] Carbon disulfide is ignited in carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulfur (IV) oxide (SO2). CS2(l) + 3 O2(g) → CO2(g) + 2 SO2(g)[1] While carbon nitride (C3N4) is broken down into nitrogen gas and dec 2 C3N4(s) → 3 (CN)2(g) + N2(g)[1] When mercury sulfide (II) (HgS) reacts with oxygen will form gray mercury vapour and sulfur dioxide. If the reaction is performed inside a vessel, a gray mercury coating film can be observed on its inner surface. HgS + O2(g) → Hg(l) + SO2(g)[1] Sugar snake Not to be confused with the carbon snake. Unlike the carbon snake, which involves the reaction of sulfuric acid instead of baking soda, the sugar snake grows relatively faster and at a higher volume. Description Sucrose:Sodium bicarbonate (4:1) placed on top on sand and ethanol. This experiment uses solid fuel. Solid fuel can be sand sufficiently covered with ethanol or hexamethyltetramine. A white mixture of sucrose and baking soda will eventually turn black and the snake will grow about 15-50 centimeters (5.9–19.7 in) long after it is lit. [4] Chemical reactions Play media Black Snake Experiment Three chemical reactions occur when the snake is on. Sodium bicarbonate is broken down into sodium carbonate, water vapour, and carbon dioxide:[2] 2 NaHCO3(s) → Na2CO3(s) + H2O(g) + CO2(g) Burning sucrose or ethanol (oxygen reaction in the air) produces carbon dioxide gas and water vapour:[2] C12H22O11(s) ) + 12 O2(g) → 12 CO2(g) + 11 H2O(g) C2H5OH(l) + 3 O2(g) → 2 CO2(g) + 3 H2O(g) Some of the sucrose does not burn, but it simply decomposes at high temperature, emitting elemental carbon and water vapour:[4] C12H22O11(s) → 12 C(s) + 11 H2O(g) Carbon in the reaction makes the snake black.