Make Fire Using Chemistry - Chemical Reactions and Combustion

You don't need a match or a lighter to light a fire. There are chemical reactions that do the trick! Here's a quick rundown of ways you can make fire using chemicals typically available in a chemistry lab.

Chemical Fire #1

potassium permanganate glycerin water

Add a few drops of glycerin to a few crystals of potassium permanganate. Accelerate the reaction by adding a couple of drops of water.

Chemical Fire #2 acetone sulfuric acid potassium permanganate

Soak a tissue with acetone to make it more flammable. Draw sulfuric acid into a glass pipette. Dip the pipette into potassium permanganate so that the tip of the pipette is coated with a few crystals. Dispense the sulfuric acid onto the tissue. The potassium permangante and sulfuric acid mix to produce manganese heptoxide and fire.

Chemical Fire #3 sodium chlorate sugar sulfuric acid

Mix a small amount of sodium chlorate and sugar. Initiate the reaction by adding a few drops of sulfuric acid.

Chemical Fire #4

ammonium nitrate powder finely ground zinc powder hydrochloric acid

Mix together a small amount of ammonium nitrate and zinc powder. Initiate the reaction by adding a few drops of hydrochloric acid.

Chemical Fire Safety

If you are performing a demonstration of chemical fire using any of these reactions, use very small amounts of the chemicals listed for each project. Wear proper safety gear and work on a fire-safe surface.

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