A few things: In traditional flash powders, the ratio is not truly stoichiometric, it's more like 7:3, oxidizer:fuel. Using stoichiometric values for an experiment intending combustion is rarely going to result in a complete reaction because of the nature of fire and the fact that oxygen from the air comes into play as a reactant as well once the reaction begins. Additionally, I think your hypothesis about activation energy is correct to an extent because what actually happened in you magnesium experiment is that the magnesium power caught on fire and burned - the sodium nitrate just happened to be there and was essentially a non-factor. Aluminum will not freely burn like magnesium will, so it did not "catch fire". I realize the end goal here was not to make flash powder, but sodium nitrate is a very weak oxidizer as pyrotechnic oxidizers go. Most flash powder formulas use potassium perchlorate or chlorate, although chlorate is very dangerous to work with. Sodium nitrate is also EXTREMELY hygroscopic, so depending on your storage conditions, your oxidizer may have been a little wet. It certainly looked a bit clumpy when you were crushing it with a spoon. A final word on safety I would give is that when dealing with metal>oxidizer formulas and flash powders in particular, you should grind and sieve the powders separately and then mix very carefully. I can't tell from the video if you did this or not but I assume based on some of the other techniques that you may have put the rough powders together and then aggressively mixed them with a spoon or pestle. This is a bad idea, so stop that if you are doing it.
Thank you for the information about flash powder mixtures, we did not know that, we'll take that into account in our upcoming experiments. Concerning the oxidizer, it was just one we had as a byproduct from another experiment so it was used. We're looking into using other oxidizers with chlorates but right now we're out of the materials to make them. And for mixing we usually powderize them separately in a mortar and add them together with light spoon mixing. We're not as stupid as we once were!
That's good practice to use the mortar and pestle first and then carefully mix. Regarding more serious oxidizers, you may have difficulty obtaining potassium perchlorate or chlorate and for good reason because they can be used to make explosives. Chlorate is much more reactive and dangerous than perchlorate, so if you find yourself with the choice between the two then go for the perchlorate. In a pinch, barium nitrate is fairly available and can be used to make mild flash powders. It is a bit stronger in practice than sodium nitrate and can also be used to make green colored flames in the right formulas. Be safe and be sure to keep doing your experiments in small batches. Piles of flash powder are more than capable of self-containing and will detonate as opposed to deflagrate even without external containment if the quantity is sufficient - and it only takes a few grams. Don't be those guys in the news for making "homemade fireworks" and losing three fingers. Best of luck!
Weak? I used to mix sodium nitrate with 63µm (250 mesh) magnesium. Try it I dare you lol. The only drawback is hygroscopy. Just search on youtube Nano3+mg flash powder. That combo is quite powerful
You should be using dark German AL. Its ball milked with carbon either graphite or charcoal that wsy the carbon coat the aluminum and keeps it from oxidizing making it easier forcthe reaction to take place.
Question. I already made small amounts (up to 10mg) mixtures of Kno3/Mg and Kno3/Al/S. But till now I never know which one is more save. I mean in relation to wriction and beeing static. Kan someone enlighten me?
With magnesium forget the bridge wire try a drop of water be careful. the sodium will react to. If you use a bridge wire use a large HV cap like early A bombs
The sodium is bonded to a nitrate group so it will not react to any water (nor will the magnesium) - as far as high voltage goes, that's much more dangerous than just using a thin wire to get red hot. Deadly voltage VS a slight shock - I'd prefer the slight shock if things go sideways.
A few things:
In traditional flash powders, the ratio is not truly stoichiometric, it's more like 7:3, oxidizer:fuel. Using stoichiometric values for an experiment intending combustion is rarely going to result in a complete reaction because of the nature of fire and the fact that oxygen from the air comes into play as a reactant as well once the reaction begins. Additionally, I think your hypothesis about activation energy is correct to an extent because what actually happened in you magnesium experiment is that the magnesium power caught on fire and burned - the sodium nitrate just happened to be there and was essentially a non-factor. Aluminum will not freely burn like magnesium will, so it did not "catch fire".
I realize the end goal here was not to make flash powder, but sodium nitrate is a very weak oxidizer as pyrotechnic oxidizers go. Most flash powder formulas use potassium perchlorate or chlorate, although chlorate is very dangerous to work with. Sodium nitrate is also EXTREMELY hygroscopic, so depending on your storage conditions, your oxidizer may have been a little wet. It certainly looked a bit clumpy when you were crushing it with a spoon.
A final word on safety I would give is that when dealing with metal>oxidizer formulas and flash powders in particular, you should grind and sieve the powders separately and then mix very carefully. I can't tell from the video if you did this or not but I assume based on some of the other techniques that you may have put the rough powders together and then aggressively mixed them with a spoon or pestle. This is a bad idea, so stop that if you are doing it.
Thank you for the information about flash powder mixtures, we did not know that, we'll take that into account in our upcoming experiments. Concerning the oxidizer, it was just one we had as a byproduct from another experiment so it was used. We're looking into using other oxidizers with chlorates but right now we're out of the materials to make them.
And for mixing we usually powderize them separately in a mortar and add them together with light spoon mixing. We're not as stupid as we once were!
That's good practice to use the mortar and pestle first and then carefully mix. Regarding more serious oxidizers, you may have difficulty obtaining potassium perchlorate or chlorate and for good reason because they can be used to make explosives. Chlorate is much more reactive and dangerous than perchlorate, so if you find yourself with the choice between the two then go for the perchlorate.
In a pinch, barium nitrate is fairly available and can be used to make mild flash powders. It is a bit stronger in practice than sodium nitrate and can also be used to make green colored flames in the right formulas. Be safe and be sure to keep doing your experiments in small batches. Piles of flash powder are more than capable of self-containing and will detonate as opposed to deflagrate even without external containment if the quantity is sufficient - and it only takes a few grams. Don't be those guys in the news for making "homemade fireworks" and losing three fingers.
Best of luck!
Weak? I used to mix sodium nitrate with 63µm (250 mesh) magnesium. Try it I dare you lol. The only drawback is hygroscopy. Just search on youtube Nano3+mg flash powder. That combo is quite powerful
Well, if you put the sodium nitrate in a oven for 20 minutes in 225 celsius. Then it will stay dry for like two months. Am i right or am i wrong?
You should be using dark German AL. Its ball milked with carbon either graphite or charcoal that wsy the carbon coat the aluminum and keeps it from oxidizing making it easier forcthe reaction to take place.
Fire in the bowl! I love it!😂😂😂😂
Underrated
Can you provude the reaction between aluminium and sodium nitrate? What products are formed? Thanks
Question. I already made small amounts (up to 10mg) mixtures of Kno3/Mg and Kno3/Al/S. But till now I never know which one is more save. I mean in relation to wriction and beeing static. Kan someone enlighten me?
Now what would happen if you did a batch of the 2, and put the aluminum mix on top, so the magnesium mix would act as the ignition source?
Try Potassium Persulfate K2S2O8 + Mg @ 50:50 jeje 👍 💥👀
Don't tell them, spare there life
Is it safe?
@@semi8515 I'm not sure
@@semi8515 every flash is dangerous
I used K2s2o8 for Flash. It seems to be safe. With Magnesium it's more dangerous because magnesium reacts with water. be careful.
12g nitrate/ 9g mg/al/ 6g sulfur
With magnesium forget the bridge wire try a drop of water be careful. the sodium will react to.
If you use a bridge wire use a large HV cap like early A bombs
The sodium is bonded to a nitrate group so it will not react to any water (nor will the magnesium) - as far as high voltage goes, that's much more dangerous than just using a thin wire to get red hot. Deadly voltage VS a slight shock - I'd prefer the slight shock if things go sideways.
MORE GABE.
learn to use a camera and make $, so much wasted potential here ;-/
Damn bro I dont see any problems