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Topic: How can you prevent a test tube from exploding?  (Read 2410 times)

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Offline Xuanny

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How can you prevent a test tube from exploding?
« on: November 07, 2009, 12:06:27 PM »
I'm not sure exactly what the experiment is (I don't think it's all that relevant, but I might be wrong), but apparently, a reaction happens in a test tube that heats it up so quickly, it shatters. Is there a way around this? I don't think heating it beforehand helped. I read somewhere that sterilizing the tube under pressure would prevent shattering, but would that work if the tube breaks because of heat, rather than pressure?

Offline csrscience.com

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Re: How can you prevent a test tube from exploding?
« Reply #1 on: November 07, 2009, 03:01:01 PM »
It cracks from a difference in temperature changes causing internal forces since part of it expands at a different rate, or something to that effect.
You must be doing thermite in it or something, because with a test tube of decent quality you can put it in a propane torch flame and it doesn't shatter.

Use knew ones that haven't been treated with any significant amount of heat - nearly melting glass can seriously ruin its properties.
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