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A quick one

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 12:47 pm
by $harp$hooter
Step-son has some chemistry homework as they have been investigating chemical compositions. His homework is to put together a project demonstrating chemical compositions, their reactions and if possible subsequent uses.

When he mentioned this to me the first thing that came to mind was a good old match head powered cannon with potassium nitrate and sugar fuse, however this got me thinking. If I were to help him with the project and then we build such a canon to demonstrate the chemical reaction so he could film it to use in his power point presentation, can this land us in hot water?

Are we best off just doing the base reactions and then having him explain how these reactions could be used i.e. in a canon etc.

Re: A quick one

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 12:50 pm
by froggy
I guess the men in blue are probably already on their way with flashing lights ?

Re: A quick one

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 12:57 pm
by Doz
Trying to remember to when I dealt with fireworks - I believe it is OK for anyone to produce small quantities (not sure of the definition of 'small' here either, I suspect a few grams) of compositions for their own personal experimentation, but once that composition is contained in something, i.e. a firework or in this case a cannon, it becomes something that could cause you problems.

Re: A quick one

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 12:59 pm
by Charlotte the flyer
Depends on whether you have a spare slot for it. fingerscrossed bangbang (kidding)

I'd steer clear personally, it's not worth the risk.

Re: A quick one

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 2:59 pm
by $harp$hooter
I'll just show him the videos on YouTube then and let him devise his own conclusions. Cheers everyone

Re: A quick one

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 4:05 pm
by froggy

Re: A quick one

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 5:03 pm
by Doz
signfunnypost :lol:

Re: A quick one

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:38 pm
by judders
Stop trying to make education fun, he's not supposed to actually enjoy it.

Re: A quick one

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:41 pm
by Tower75
froggy wrote:Do you live in Clacton , Essex ?



Image
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-26046430
Yes, or rather, I used to up until 6 months ago. Family still does.

Re: A quick one

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 9:58 pm
by $harp$hooter
froggy wrote:Do you live in Clacton , Essex ?



Image
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-26046430
Nope thats not me, terrible shame. He is happy just describing other people's experiments on YouTube however some practical science would have been fun