BURN STEEL WOOL

We demonstrate the simple combustive oxidation of iron by burning a common household item: Steel wool.

Normally we do not think of iron as being flammable, this is because bulk iron doesn't self-sustain its burning like most flammable materials. But the strands of steel wool are thin enough with enough surface area that heat produced is self-sustaining and will continue to burn through if there is enough air present.

To do this, simply pull apart and fluff up the steel wool to separate the strands. Then simply set it on fire. The steel wool should then burn flamelessly creating iron oxide.

You can also use a 9-volt battery and short out the terminals across the steel wool, the resistive heating should be hot enough to start it lit.

[lapinchem]

All it takes is a spark to get the reaction started. Many years ago, I practiced this fire starting technique in our hay field at home. Burned about 2 acres when it got away from me. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and no buildings lost.

Thanks for your continuing efforts to bring cool science to a public forum. Interesting experiments are needed to get kids (young and old) interested in learning the basic chemistry and science behind them.

[SteinisBaratheon]

We did this in school with a 12V battery. It started sparking too much, and we were foolish enough to do it on a wooden table. In an attempt to push to bloody thing down to the concrete floor it got stuck to my hand. I now have some nice 2nd degree burns to show for it. 
Protip: Never touch it. It sticks to the skin, burns and hurts. A lot.

[silverblotter]

ive been starting fires in wet conditions for years with this technique but never really knew why it worked... thanks man very well explained

[eternitynaut]

1:40, that's a slow recreation of how my neurons function, thanks bro.

[asianspark]

The burning steel wool was so beautiful, I got hypnotized.

[bbeck]

Can the temperature of burning steel wool be hot enough to liberate the oxygen from sodium silicate?

[jonathanwade]

does the same piece work many times in a row?

[evilmurderproduction]

this is by far the coolest thing I have see, Im wondering how epic it would look if it was filmed at like 600 frames a second. Thanx for sharing :)

[NurdRage]

@Thomsentill just about any lighter or match will do, you can even use a 9-volt battery and short the terminals to the wool

[NurdRage]

@L0rdPie As i said before you can simply turn off the sound and turn on the subtitles if you find the audio grating. The subtitles have been done by hand and actually correspond to the audio, they're not auto-transcribed audio that is notoriously "poetic".

[amorleyroberts]

While nothing new for someone familiar with a bit of science as well as oxy-fuel torch cutting, your high quality video camera makes this video quite spectacular. Cheers!

[NurdRage]

@darthukas once it's oxidized it can no longer be burned again, you'll have to start with a fresh piece of steel wool.

[atsf]

random phenomena of chemistry that you provide never ceases to amaze me.

[Yuginusagi]

I must say...I am no amateur scientist...I barely understand most of the things said in these videos. I love them all though...I think all this stuff is so interesting. I would never try any of this, because I am an accident waiting to happen. So I am glad you put these videos up, so I can tell my ma I actually learned something lol! Thanks again and keep making these videos!

[thethoughtemporium]

only u could make something so basic, interesting :P

[Rebuilder]

Your channel has contributed to me becoming a giant science nerd! I don't have the space in my apartment right now or the know how to confidently and safely conduct many expirements, but after Gen Chem 1 and 2 and I get a bigger place I am breakin out the test tubes baby!

[PhoenixPlaneswalker]

I love doing this at school. We have our students weigh the wool before and after, to show them that burning actually increases the mass

[Drumsinstopmotion]

While working at a Scout camp this summer a guy I really respect was telling kids how to start a fire. Without thinking he placed steel wool and a battery in one hand and talked with the other. The wool proceed to ignite in his hand. Luckily he realized it and dropped the wool before his hand was burnt.

[AndyReynolds]

Very nice video nurdrage. Also, I had a question about the KClO3 you used. Potassium perchlorate (KClO4) is the oxidizer in aluminum based flash powder. Can KClO3 be used to replace the costly KClO4 and if so would there be an energy loss due to the lower amount of oxygen? Thanks.

[NurdRage]

@ShoopDaWoosh Didn't i mention that in annotations and the video description?