Uploaded June 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Dr Thompson performs a spectacular demonstration of the thermite reaction.
This is the reaction between aluminium and iron(iii) oxide.
Fe2O3 + 2 Al → 2 Fe + Al2O3
This is an example of a 'displacement reaction', sometimes called a 'competition reaction'.
A very high temperature is required to initiate the mixture: it must be white hot. During the reaction, the temperature reaches 2862 °C. Not only is this enough to melt the iron (1538 °C), it is also hot enough to melt the aluminium oxide (2072 °C). It is even possible that some of the iron is hot enough to boil! This particular reaction is often used to weld railway tracks.
Alternative metal oxides can be used, including manganese dioxide and copper(ii) oxide. The version with copper(ii) oxide is rapid and very dangerous: molten copper can be sprayed a considerable distance!
A classic military use for thermite is disabling artillery pieces, and it has been used for this purpose since World War II. Thermite can permanently disable artillery pieces without the use of explosive charges, and therefore thermite can be used when silence is necessary to an operation.
Dr Thompson performs a spectacular demonstration of the thermite reaction.
This is the reaction between aluminium and iron(iii) oxide.
Fe2O3 + 2 Al → 2 Fe + Al2O3
This is an example of a 'displacement reaction', sometimes called a 'competition reaction'.
A very high temperature is required to initiate the mixture: it must be white hot. During the reaction, the temperature reaches 2862 °C. Not only is this enough to melt the iron (1538 °C), it is also hot enough to melt the aluminium oxide (2072 °C). It is even possible that some of the iron is hot enough to boil! This particular reaction is often used to weld railway tracks.
Alternative metal oxides can be used, including manganese dioxide and copper(ii) oxide. The version with copper(ii) oxide is rapid and very dangerous: molten copper can be sprayed a considerable distance!
A classic military use for thermite is disabling artillery pieces, and it has been used for this purpose since World War II. Thermite can permanently disable artillery pieces without the use of explosive charges, and therefore thermite can be used when silence is necessary to an operation.
