March 28, 2024, 01:58:14 PM
Forum Rules: Read This Before Posting


Topic: Thermite: Manganese as an Oxidizer  (Read 1292 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline uoste211

  • Very New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Thermite: Manganese as an Oxidizer
« on: November 25, 2018, 07:48:53 PM »
Hello everyone, I've been trying to find a way to obtain elemental boron, and the idea of thermite interested me. Because who doesn't enjoy fire?

For my boron source, I plan to use boric oxide (B2O3). But have been toying with the oxidizer. I know I could easily just use aluminum powder or magnesium powder, but I had some manganese powder laying around and it made me wonder if it could be used in the thermite reaction. Manganese as an oxide (Mn2O3) is a great reducer for thermites, but as the metal? I would love to hear what anyone thinks about this topic.

Thanks

Offline Enthalpy

  • Chemist
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4041
  • Mole Snacks: +304/-59
Re: Thermite: Manganese as an Oxidizer
« Reply #1 on: November 26, 2018, 12:32:36 PM »
Welcome, uoste211!

Beware many boron compounds are seriously toxic, and what you plan will release dust in the air.

Manganese isn't an efficient reducer. In a first, simplified analysis, you can compare the heat of formation of the oxides per atom of oxygen:
kJ/mol O
-274.7 (*3) Fe2O3
-279.6 (*4) Fe3O4
-385.2 (*1) MnO, provided this oxide forms. The others are worse.
-424.5 (*3) B2O3
-558.6 (*3) Al2O3
-601.6 (*1) MgO
I expect no reaction at all.

You need a table of the heat (or enthalpy) of formation of the compounds. There are some on the Web.

Sponsored Links