Thermite on a Frozen Pond

15lb of Thermite is ignited on Chocolate Pond at Christ School in Arden, NC. Note how the frozen ice undergoes both phase changes from ice to water and from water to steam.

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[ruburtoe1]

@crazypeanut94 actually, the ice would obviously sublimate as the boiling point of water is 100 C and thermites burning temp is about 2000 C, douche. and i know the definition of sublimation, thats why i used it

[CSChemistry]

@ruburtoe1 Actually, Crazypeanut is right. At our atmospheric pressure, ice will always turn to liquid, even if for a moment before it turns to steam. Dry ice on the other hand is a different story.

[CSChemistry]

@ruburtoe1 - check this out, just for further evidence that this is not sublimation. Our pressure on the ground is around 1.0atm (give or take a little depending on altitude). At this pressure, it is impossible to skip the liquid phase. check it out... stevengoddard.wordpress. com/2010/09/02/the-ideal-world­-phase-diagrams-part-deux/

[ruburtoe1]

the ice going from ice to steam has a name, its called sublimation in case u wanted to change your description

[CSChemistry]

@ruburtoe1 - you are correct that Solid to gas is called sublimation. that doesn't happen with water at our atmospheric pressure. If i were able to do this experiment in a vacuum and could lower the pressure, I could make it sublime. however, that would be a large vacuum chamber, and if I were in it, my blood would boil and I'd die.

[LihAniaih]

@JerryGiesler09 Quick ice fishing, too. Just make sure some fish are near the thing and they'll already be cooked as you pull them out of the water :D

[BungMag]

thats not thermite . Thermite doesnt not burn like that it releases small pieces of molten iron

[mmahone6440]

@CSChemistry If you were exposed to a hard vacuum your blood would not boil.

[JoshuaMe13]

6 people from Mythbusters wanted an explosion.

[stevex18z]

i dare you to go get it

[ilikessubway]

Christ School.... wow.

[Agentoxedo07]

Holy-Terrorist:>*=* Interesting!

[RubyParrotGirl]

i now know how adele sets fire to the rain

[skeilak]

@CSChemistry

That looks like a fun way to spend a winter afternoon.

I enjoyed watching it. And it does seem like the water at the point of ignition, is boiling on the surface of the ice.

That, is pretty cool!

[Mrjerry284]

Thats one way to melt ice

[DANGJOS]

@CSChemistry your lungs exploding if you didn't open your mouth would probably be a bigger issue