Hydrogen - Periodic Table of Videos
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The team at periodicvideos has created a TED-Ed Lesson for every element of the periodic table. This one is about hydrogen and an exploding balloon. But what creates the fireball?
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Javier Enrique Traid
Lesson in progress
Heating only Hydrogen on the baloon
What happens if puts te electric detonator inside the balon to heat oly the hydrogen without mix with O2?
Comments are closed on this discussion.
Aung Min
Lesson completed
in response to Elizabeth Hamilton Show comment
That is true. I agree.
Elizabeth Hamilton
Lesson completed
in response to Shane Smith Show comment
It will pop the balloon.
Shane Smith
Lesson completed
Hi Javier,
The short answer is: not much.
The long answer begins with another question: what will the electric match do? Will it even go off? Yes, it will. Electric matches are usually two wires of any type connected by a thin nichrome bridge, then dipped in a propellant mixture. The nichrome wire gets hot and sets off the propellant, and the match ignites regardless of oxygen in the environment because the propellant is a mixture of both fuel and oxidizer. Assuming the propellant was properly mixed, the fuel and oxidizer are balanced, will consume each other completely, and the hydrogen in the balloon will just get a little warmer. Remember, the hydrogen is just fuel, and isn't flammable without oxidizer. All fuels are like this. For instance, gasoline liquid isn't flammable, only the vapor, because without air there is no oxidizer. On the same note, even pure oxygen can only cause fires if there is fuel around.
I hope that helps.
