Incomplete Combustion of Hydrogen: Trapping a Reaction Intermediate

Bruce Mattson and Trisha Hoette
Department of Chemistry, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178
Michelle S. Applebee
Department of Chemistry, Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, IL 60126
J. Chem. Educ., 2007, 84 (10), p 1668
DOI: 10.1021/ed084p1668
Publication Date (Web): October 1, 2007

Abstract

The combustion of hydrogen in air is quite complex with at least 28 mechanistic steps and twelve reaction species. Most of the species involved are radicals (having unpaired electrons) in nature. Among the various species generated, a few are stable, including hydrogen peroxide. In a normal hydrogen flame, the hydrogen peroxide goes on to further oxidation resulting in water. In this classroom demonstration, a hydrogen flame is played across the face of an ice cube and the combustion is quenched in an incomplete state. The solution that results contains aqueous hydrogen peroxide that can be tested with two simple chemical tests.

Keywords (Audience):

First-Year Undergraduate / General

Keywords (Domain):

Demonstrations

Keywords (Feature):

JCE DigiDemos: Tested Demonstrations

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives

Keywords (Subject):

Descriptive Chemistry
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History

  • Received: August 03, 2009

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