A series of short video clips of explosive and exciting chemical reactions, taken from a lecture called “Fire and Flame” by Dr. Peter Wothers at the University of Cambridge. 

Fire and Flame: 25 - Pure Propane in Air

Starting to investigate how hydrocarbons burn in air, with propane.

From the Peter Wothers lecture series - Fire and Flame

Fire and Flame: 26 - Best Propane Oxygen Ratio

How do we get the biggest bang when burning propane and oxygen?

From the Peter Wothers lecture series - Fire and Flame

Fire and Flame 27 - Propane and Oxygen

What happens when a propane and oxygen mixture is set on fire?

From the Peter Wothers lecture series - Fire and Flame.

Fire and Flame 28: 1:5 Ratio of Propane to Oxygen

Trying to make the biggest bang using a 1:5 ratio of propane to oxygen.

From the Peter Wothers lecture series - Fire and Flame

Fire and Flame: 29 - Catalysts

How catalysts can help set things alight.

From the Peter Wothers lecture series - Fire and Flame

Fire and Flame: 30 - Palladium with Hydrogen

How a palladium metal catalyst helps to set hydrogen on fire without using a spark!

From the Peter Wothers lecture series - Fire and Flame

Fire and Flame: 31 - Catalytic Converter

Explaining the roles that catalysts play in our cars.

From the Peter Wothers lecture series - Fire and Flame

Fire and Flame: 32 - Platinum with Methanol

How does a metal catalyst help us set fire to an alcohol?

From the Peter Wothers lecture series - Fire and Flame

Fire and Flame: 33 - Phosphorus

Demonstration of how very reactive phosphorus catches fire on contact with the air!

From the Peter Wothers lecture series - Fire and Flame

Fire and Flame: 34 - Methyl Lithium

Another very flammable gas, methane, spontaneously setting on fire!

From the Peter Wothers lecture series - Fire and Flame

Fire and Flame: 35 - Methane

Bubbles of methane burning in air.

From the Peter Wothers lecture series - Fire and Flame

Fire and Flame: 36 - Silane

Silicon based silane is even more reactive than methane!

From the Peter Wothers lecture series - Fire and Flame