4A40.70 - Liquid Oxygen - Acceleration of Combustion

Code Number:
4A40.70
Demo Title:
Liquid Oxygen - Acceleration of Combustion
Condition:
Excellent
Principle:
Accelerating Combustion
Area of Study:
Heat & Fluids
Equipment:
Petri dish, Liquid Oxygen, Dewar, Tongs, Grill Lighter, Animal Crackers, Cigarettes, Rice Krispies.
Procedure:

NOTE:  This equipment is also used for the 4C30.80 and 5G30.20 demonstrations.

Prepare some liquid oxygen using the copper LOX generator.  Soak the animal cracker or cigarette in the LOX for a period of time.  Place the cracker in a Petri dish and light with the grill lighter.  The cracker should be consumed in a few seconds because of the greatly enhanced presence of oxygen.

References:
  • Greg DiLisi and Stella McLean, "The Apollo 1 Fire: A Case Study in the Flammability of Fabrics", TPT, Vol. 57, #4, Apr. 2019, p. 236.
  • George M. Hopkins', "Liquid Air and its Phenomena", Experimental Science, Volume Two, p. 268.
  • Charles Vivian, "How To Burn Steel", Science Experiments & Amusements For Children, p. 6.

Disclaimer: These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist.  The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose.  The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources.  Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks.  These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage.  Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.