Can You Make a Chemical Volcano?

Tahsin Rahman

Writing For Engineering

Professor Brown

23 February 2022

Abstract:

In this experiment we are going to see how to make a chemical volcano & fire blizzard using chromium. Its will almost look like the real volcano that we see inside television. Chromium oxide (Cr₂O₇) is a catalyst & I am going to use it for my experiment. We will need a burner and a steel cup & ½ pound ammonium dichromate. We must do it inside lab wearing all protections and maintaining security. The hypothesis is to prove how chromium oxide can make volcano by a decomposition of ammonium dichromate.

Introduction: 

We have seen Lava, Volcano and how destructive they are when volcano emits Lava. It may be very difficult to see the explosion of lava in front of us because of its destruction. The motivation behind the experiment to make chemical volcano. We make almost same volcano inside our Lab using only a few substances.

Material & Method:

• Stainless steel cup
• 1/2 pound of Ammonium dichromate
• Torch culinary Burner
• Personal Protection Equipment (mask, Apron, gloves)

Process we followed:

1. First, we are going to put an amount of 1 small cup of Ammonium dichromate in the stainless-steel cup
2. Then we are going to use the culinary torch burner for a few seconds until the Ammonium dichromate starts burning.
3. After a few minutes we will see how Ammonium dichromate is decaying and making the surprise.

Result:

The ammonium dichromate is going to make reaction with oxygen that burns it, and the reaction is

(NH4)₂ Cr₂O_{7 +}2O_{2   →}    Cr₂O₇ + N₂ +4H₂O

Here the oxygen burns the element, decompose & produce Cr₂O₇ which makes the volcano.

Discussion: Here we tried to use the ammonium dichromate after burning which produces Cr₂O₇ (Chromium Oxide) which is a catalyst that is responsible for the explosive volcano. We must keep in mind that we must use at least 1 small cup of ammonium dichromate otherwise the burner and the oxygen can’t help the ammonium dichromate to make the oxidizing reaction. We must wait until the element starts to burn. Our goal was to make the chemical volcano which has been made successfully by doing the oxidizing reaction and following the steps. But as the room was big, we had some difficulties due to wind because it was resisting the ammonium chromate decomposition. And the result completely matched the hypothesis.

Conclusion:

The main reason was behind the experiment to create a chemical volcano using chromium oxide. Here we had maintained all the safety than used the steps and process to make the volcano. If we putted more Ammonium dichromate the reaction would last long, and we could enjoy that view more. We should try to do it inside a room where wind can’t interfere on our reaction. It can be used to study about how to stop the destruction of volcano And  the reason of  the   Rage of  volcano in future.

Reference:

1.  Thoisoi2 – Chemical Experiments!, “Chemical Volcano and Fire Blizzard with Chromium Oxide!” YouTube Dec 4, 2014

Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Z_VeDtnuM [Accessed: 22-Feb-2022].