Thermite with barium sulfate instead of gypsum

I picked barium sulfate as an oxidizer because it is 4000 times less soluble in water than plaster and is always anhydrous. Also, the product, barium sulfide, is soluble in boiling water allowing the experimentor an oppottunity to reclaim some of the barium.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• aluminothermic
• reduction
• thermite
• barium
• sulfate
• barite
• heavy spar

[j822bosh]

Yes, I agree. But the iron is under a slag of aluminum oxide and unburnt iron oxide. This makes it difficult to get the H2O in contact with the catalytic Fe. I read somewhere that Fe only needs to be 1100 Fahrenheit or cherry red to split water. It was suggested using a Fresnel lense on a sunny day. I would think solar energy would have alot more use in Australia than here. I am afraid we are cold and grey here pretty much from now until early April. :(

[ChrisPCrunchy]

Thermite is a great way to release Hydrogen from water rapidly. The Aluminium powder oxidises when heated in contact with the iron oxide powder. The resulting heat allows the iron to strip the oxygen from the H2O giving off pure Hydrogen H2 and returning the iron to an oxide.