EGGSPLOSION!

Materials: 

 * ===== **hallow egg ** =====
 * ===== **6M HCl ** =====
 * ===== **magnesium strip ** =====
 * ===== **tape ** =====
 * ===== **Erlenmeyer flask ** =====
 * ===== **test tube ** =====
 * ===== **test tube rack ** =====
 * ===== **matches ** =====
 * ===== **ear/eye protection ** =====

* Caution: //The explosion is quite loud, and egg pieces will fly a short distance.//

Procedure:

1. Obtain a hallow egg by punctuating a raw egg at both ends and emptying the contents. 2. Put one inch 6M HCl in the test tube. Cut the magnesium strip into small pieces making it easier for the strips to reach the HCl in the test tube. 3. Prepare a small piece of tape to cover over the hole on the egg. 4. Once the test tube is on a stable test tube rack, put the small magnesium strips into the test tube. Immediately, put your hallow egg on top of the test tube. Look for small amounts of the fumes that will appear above the egg as the hydrogen gas is being produced and replacing the oxygen inside the egg. 5. Once the reaction is done and there is no longer gas coming out, place the piece of tape onto your egg. <span style="color: #0f8f0f; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 132%;">6. Quickly move the taped egg onto the opening of the Erlenmeyer flask. Get a match ready. <span style="color: #27a027; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="color: #128c12; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">7. Ignite the match and take the tape off of the egg. Quickly, place your match on top and near the small hole of the egg. The egg will explode.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The Explanation of the Chemistry **

<span style="color: #060660; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace; font-size: 110%;"> Who doesn’t like seeing things explode? This demonstration displays a certain chemical reaction in which two reactants, magnesium and hydrochloric acid, yields or results to magnesium chloride and hydrogen gas. This type of chemical reaction is called single replacement in which the hydrogen molecule leaves the chlorine molecule and at the end the hydrogen molecule will be alone as a gas and the magnesium and chlorine will link together. When the egg is placed on the test tube, the hydrogen gas pushes out the oxygen and replaces it. Taking off the tape on the egg releases the hydrogen gas through the tiny hole. The ignited match meets with the flammable hydrogen gas, and the result of the expanding gases and the quick increase of the temperature of the gas creates too much pressure inside the egg for it too contain. Thus, the egg explodes into pieces.


 * <span style="color: #d96108; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">The chemical equations for this demonstration are seen as **

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Mg (s) + 2HCl (aq) --> MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)**
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">

[[image:Hindenburg.jpg width="394" height="297" align="left"]]
<span style="color: #060660; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace; font-size: 110%;"> A similar historical event rel ating to this demo comes in mind. The //Hindenburg// airship of 1937 had gone up in flames as a result of a hydrogen gas-explosion. This airship was powered by 7,062,100 million cubic feet of hydrogen gas. With all that hydrogen gas, anything that gave off a spark of static electricity would lead to total destruction and the bursting in flames of the aircraft. According to the theory of how this disaster happened, a gas leak led to the opportunity. With the gas leak relating to the small hole of the egg in which the hydrogen gas would come out of, the simple existence of a spark from a static electrical discharge or the lighting of a match and putting it near the hydrogen gas leads to an instant blast and outburst.

=
<span style="color: #060660; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Surprisingly, the ending product of this demo is not only an explosion of an egg, but also the production of water (H20). This is all from the chemical reaction of combustion. The match head is made up of a combustible material containing phosphorus. In the presence of oxygen (O2), the match is ignited. When using the wooden splint, the organic material (usually made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen) then produces CO2 as one of the products. This is necessary for the next combustion with the hydrogen gas found in the egg. When the hydrogen gas is released from the egg, the burning match (with the presence of oxygen) creates a second combustion with the product of carbon dioxide (C02), heat, and water (H20). =====

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Practical Applications: <span style="color: #666060; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">

<span style="color: #666060; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">1. The use of it in powering cars and replacing carbon dioxide. The emission would be water vapor instead of CO2. 2. Currently, hydrogen gas is used as an energy fuel, like fueling space shuttles that give power to the shuttle’s electrical systems. The by-product for the crew is pure drinking water. 3. The hydrogen fuel cells produce electricity that can be used in isolated areas for facilities such as hospitals. Smaller fuel cells could obtain energy to power laptops, cell phones, and military appliances.

<span style="color: #060660; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">

Works Cited

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;">“Applications of hydrogen.” //Think Quest//. Web. 14 Jan 2010. <[]>.

Becker, Bob. "An Egg-Splosive Demonstration." //Twenty Demonstrations Guaranteed to Know Your Socks Off!// Web. 19 Jan 2010. <http://www.mwt.net/~bionorse/Egg%20splosion.htm>

De Leon, N. "Combustion Reactions." //Chemistry 101//. Web. 19 Jan 2010. <http://www.iun.edu/~cpanhd/C101webnotes/chemical%20reactions/combustion.html>.

“Hydrogen.” //U.S. Energy Information Administration.// 1998. Web. 14 Jan 2010. <[]>.

Stewart, Robert, Clint Twist and Edward Horton. //Mysteries of History.// Washington: National Geographic, 2003. Print.

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