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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: millon on July 22, 2007, 02:12:38 AM

Title: What chemicals cause strong exothermic reactions with water?
Post by: millon on July 22, 2007, 02:12:38 AM

I am having a debate with a friend about whether this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6UTGkC73GE is for real. I claim that he just sprinkles the towel with sodium hydroxide. I have used it before in a lab with water and aluminum foil to make hydrogen before to make hydrogen gas, and I know that that reaction gets pretty hot. I am just wondering if there are any other possible chemicals that he could be using.
For this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAAB0dbc3Es (starting at 1:50) I want to know what he may be using to burn the newspaper. My two guesses are that he is using zinc and either ammonium nitrate or sodium peroxide with sweat from his hands, but I would like to know what else could cause this same effect.

Title: Re: What chemicals cause strong exothermic reactions with water?
Post by: Mitch on July 23, 2007, 02:23:23 AM

I would highly doubt it is real. NaOh would work, but if it leaks I'll leave a hole in his clothes the next time he washes them.

Title: Re: What chemicals cause strong exothermic reactions with water?
Post by: AWK on July 23, 2007, 06:12:35 AM

Quote from: Mitch on July 23, 2007, 02:23:23 AM

I would highly doubt it is real. NaOh would work, but if it leaks I'll leave a hole in his clothes the next time he washes them.

New jeans are preferable! Though wool is quite resistant to action of NaOH