The Chemistry of Thermite

1. By: Grant Smith The Chemistry of Thermite

2. Thermite is the product of an aluminum metal and iron oxide reaction at an extreme temperature. Thermite has a wide variety of uses in the world today. It is mainly used for welding and incendiary bombs. During the WWII thermite was used by the United States military in incendiary bombs. Today the military still uses thermite in grenades which can burn through armor with ease Summary

3. A thermite reaction can’t be put out by anything. Because of the intense heat of the reaction itself, thermite will burn underwater. It has been at the center of many conspiracies. It was speculated that thermite could have been the cause of the Hindenburg disaster in 1937. Conspiracy theorists have also speculated that controlled thermite demolition bombs were the cause of the 9-11 terror attacks. Summary

4. “Thermite is a generic name given to high-temperature reactions between certain metal oxides and aluminum ( Tinnesand 14).” The thermite reaction is an exothermic, single replacement combustion reaction . The chemical formula for the thermite reaction is Fe2O3 + 2Al → Al2O3 + 2Fe + heat . The change in enthalpy is about -850 kJ/ mol In this reaction iron oxide and aluminum metal react with each other to produce aluminum oxide, an elemental iron, and heat. Chemistry

5. Other metals such as chromium oxide and copper oxide are also used. Iron is more reactive with the aluminum. In order to achieve the temperatures necessary to begin the reaction, magnesium ribbons (Mg) or potassium permanganate (KMnO4) + Glycerin. When the metals are ignited they reach temperatures as high as 3000°C which is about 5432°F. Thermite gives off enough energy to sustain itself. This intense heat causes the metals aluminum and iron oxide to melt down to a molten liquid state. Chemistry

6. Other metals such as chromium oxide and copper oxide are also used. Iron is more reactive with the aluminum. In order to achieve the temperatures necessary to begin the reaction, magnesium ribbons (Mg) or potassium permanganate (KMnO4) + Glycerin. When the metals are ignited they reach temperatures as high as 3000°C which is about 5432°F. Thermite gives off enough energy to sustain itself. This intense heat causes the metals aluminum and iron oxide to melt down to a molten liquid state. Chemistry

7. Thermite is important to our lives because it has literally built this country. W ithout it welding would be near impossible. S kyscrapers could not have been built without thermite. Thermite has and will continue to be used as a weapon to protect our soldiers fighting abroad who are defending freedom. Implications

8. http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8XSmSdvEK4

9. Chemistry Daily . N.p ., 4 Jan. 2007. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. < http://www.chemistrydaily.com/chemistry/Thermite >. Tinnesand , Michael. "Mighty Thermite." ChemMatters Feb. 2002: 14-15. Print About.com . N.p ., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. < http://usmilitary.about.com/od/weapons/a/thermite.htm > Ask the TA . N.p ., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. < http://www.askthetachemistryhelp.com/thermite.html >. "Thermite." Amazing Rust . N.p ., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2013. http://web.archive.org/web/20110707122310/amazingrust.com/experiments/how_to/Thermite.html Works Cited