Paradoxes, Puzzles, and Pitfalls of Incomplete Combustion Demonstrations

• Ed Vitz ^[1]
  1. [1] Kutztown University

     Kutztown University

     Borough of Kutztown, Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 77, Nº 8 (August), 2000, págs. 1011-1011
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • In this demonstration, paper is burned in a closed container containing sufficient oxygen to consume all the paper by the reaction (C6H10O5)n + 6nO2 ---> 6nCO2 + 5nH2O.

    Paradoxically, the flame expires while half of the paper remains. This demonstrates that thermodynamics or stoichiometry is insufficient to explain everyday chemical processes, and that kinetics is often necessary. The gases in the container are analyzed by GC before and after combustion, and the results are examined in detail.