The cornflour ‘bomb’

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A yellow-orange explosion against a black background, surrounded by sparks

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Create a small explosion inside a tin can using cornflour in this demonstration, illustrating energy transformation. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

In this experiment, students observe what happens when cornflour is sprayed into the flame of a candle burning inside a large tin can with the lid on. The resulting small explosion caused by rapid combustion of the cornflour blows the lid off the tin.

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