Exhibition chemistry

Exploding soap bubbles

By 2010-11-01T00:00:00

Bubbles

Source: (c) Adrian Guy

Soap bubbles containing a mixture of oxygen and methane can be used to produce spectacular explosions and impressive shock-waves that will always please

Soap bubbles containing a mixture of oxygen and methane can be used to produce spectacular explosions and impressive shock-waves that will always please

Special tips:

  • practise the experiment before attempting with a class, practise makes perfect with regards to mixing the gases in the correct proportions
  • start with bubbles of pure methane to illustrate the slow combustion of methane in the limited supply of oxygen from the surrounding air
  • if the bubbles are not exploding or just burning with a yellow flame, adjust mixture until successful
  • once confident in the procedure, try igniting similar quantities of the bubbles held directly on your hand

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