Thermite Reactions
By
Courtney Jolley
Chemistry Honors Project
Chipola Junior College
November 22, 2002
Thermite Reactions
A chemical reaction is one in which a chemical change takes place, and the products cannot be reversed to their original form. One of these types of reactions is a thermite reaction. A thermite reaction is one between aluminum metal and an oxide of another metal such as iron. The reaction produces iron metal and aluminum oxide. This reaction was discovered in 1895 by Hans Goldschmidt. Many uses and aspects about this reaction have been discovered since then.
A thermite reaction is one which is extremely exothermic, or releases heat. Not only does it produce iron metal and aluminum oxide, but it also produces heat that exceeds 2000 degrees Celsius. The reaction creates fire that sometimes escalates to an explosion, and for these reasons the reaction is popularly used for demonstrations in chemistry classes. The ignition is slow at first, but when the metals react at their high temperature, the show is a great one.
The thermite reaction is used in many ways. It is used in welding for many things, such as welding metal on railroad tracks and cutting various metals. Also, the reaction has been used for many years to purify the ores of metals such as uranium. The reactions are also commonly used as incendiary weapons such as grenades and bombs because they burn at such high temperatures. The thermite reaction was also used during World War II to warm the soldiers’ food during battle. The most interesting use, however, is when the reaction has been used with ammonium perchlorate in shuttle liftoff as a booster.
Although the reaction can be very dangerous because of the high temperature it reaches after beginning, it can be mixed and stored without much danger because the ignition temperature is so incredibly high. If a fire were to take place in the room in which the mixture is being stored, however, there would be enough heat to set the reaction into motion. This would be dangerous and, consequently, storing the reaction previously mixed should be done with extreme caution.
The thermite reaction is and has been a spectacular reaction since its discovery in 1895. There are many uses for this exothermic reaction, and there will probably be many more discovered in the future. It also puts on an incredible show for all to see.
Here are a few pictures of some thermite reactions:
Works Cited
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