Electroliner 1935 I've considered that if the gas was mixed with air, it would be more likely to explode, but getting the mix right would be difficult. And more hazardus to the filler.
I've considered that if the gas was mixed with air, it would be more likely to explode, but getting the mix right would be difficult. And more hazardus to the filler.
In my teens I experimented with electrolysis, using a cobbled-up power supply. One example I remember is copper coating a silver quarter. (Why? I don't know.) Anyway, I also tried collecting hydrogen in a small olive jar then holding it to a flame and watching it go "poof". Then I decided I would get a bigger reaction if I collected both the hydrogen and oxygen together in the same jar. The proportions should be perfect. There was not much difference from the hydrogen only reaction. Of course, with greater volume, I might not be here today.
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"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
OvermodSee if you can find a slow-motion picture of a balloon being popped with a pin or projectile with Schlieren imaging that shows motion of the enclosed gas as the envelope tears from the point of failure and the tension in the envelope relaxes.
That's pretty much what I envision - In fact, I found a video that shows exactly that. Of note is that the contents of the balloon remain fairly intact, at least for a short time - long enough for those contents to ignite if within the proper explosive range (LEL -> UEL). It would likely be a "whoosh," not a pop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0BiM9R9plg
I would opine that if the cause of the failure of the envelope (balloon) was the burning string instead of a needle, the result would be as already reported.
A weather balloon can hold upwards of 100 cubic feet of gas - imagine that lighting off right over your head...
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Paul of Covington ... I decided I would get a bigger reaction if I collected both the hydrogen and oxygen together in the same jar. The proportions should be perfect. There was not much difference from the hydrogen only reaction
And if you think about it, you'll see why. Exactly the same gas reaction in 'air' (with the oxygen) just four times as much heat per olive-jar volume, without the 78% diatomic nitrogen to soak up the heat. Call it less than 4x, oxygen what? about 8% denser, but not much detonation propagation in a pickle jar. Set it off in a long tube, though, and you might see more difference.
The dramatic things happen when you have liquid H2 and O2 combining in something like the SSME.
The 'danger' is if you light off the hydrogen in an enclosed space to get the effect of extremely short heat release and shock, instead of rippling or whistling deflagration. When this happens in a storage battery it can project hot acid in surprising quantity to a surprising distance, which is not a good or fun thing even if you like things that make you go BOOM.
Speaking of "things that go boom." One afternoon, I was working in the physical chemistry lab and heard a "Boom" down the hall. My first thought was that the boys in the organic lab had had a spectacular reaction with ether. I went down the hall to learn just what had been done--and found that the stockroom boy (not a physical science major) had been putting this and that into a 4" by 8" glass jar, and had just added either an excellent oxidizer or an easily reduced compound (or the other way around; I do not remember just what the last additive was--63+ years ago), had turned away to add something else, and as he turned back he caught the jar all the way across his arms and chest. About four years later, he told me that every now and then another piece of glass would work its way out.
Johnny
It probably sounded like an amusing prank to him at the time.
CSSHEGEWISCH It probably sounded like an amusing prank to him at the time.
Actually, the task was rather boring; very few students came to the stockroom for anything. I had the responsibility my last semester in college, and I do not remember that anyone came for anything. I did run the still.
DeggestyI did run the still.
And did you distill anything that would be interesting? Wink, Wink.
Electroliner 1935 Deggesty I did run the still. And did you distill anything that would be interesting? Wink, Wink.
Deggesty I did run the still.
Edit: last night, I remembered.the proper term for the containers: carboy. I am glad that I never had to carry one up to the organic or physical chemistry labs, or down to the freshman chemistry lab (no elevator in the building).
Electroliner 1935 And did you distill anything that would be interesting? Wink, Wink.
In junior college chemistry, one of our "projects" (for a grade) was to ferment, then distill, alcohol. Most students used commercial fruit juices that were not full of preservatives. I was lucky enough to have an uncle who maintained part of an estate that included an apple orchard. It being fall, I was able to acquire from him a quantity of freshly squeezed cider - absolutely no preservatives.
As I recall, we had to distill it and make measurements. It's been a "few" years...
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