Summary
Steel Wool is burned in an oxygen rich environment which dramatically increases the rate of reaction.
Hazards
Oxygen is an oxidizer.
Chemicals and Solutions
- oxygen tank
- steel wool
Materials
- one large cylinder with sand in the bottom
- large cover glass
- tongs
- bunsen burner and matches
- goggles
Procedure
- Fill the cylinder with oxygen and cover it with a large glass square.
- Holding a piece of steel wool with tongs, ignite the steel wool by placing it in the flame of a bunsen burner.
- Quickly remove the glass cover and put the glowing steel wool into the oxygen.
- The steel wool will burn very brightly.
Discussion
Steel wool (iron) will burn in air quite gently, since air is about 20% (by volume) oxygen. When the steel wool is placed in 100% oxygen the reaction proceeds much faster and vigorously.
\( \ce{ 4Fe_{(s)} + 3O2_{(g)} -> 2Fe2O3_{(s)} } \)