Introduction: Making Thermite

Thermite is a mixture of two substances - a metal oxide (almost always iron oxide, or rust), and aluminium powder. While primarily used by the military for equipment destruction or civilian welding, it also is a brilliant pyrotechnic mixture. And, it's easy to make!

By the way, if you cause any injury to yourself, or others, or damage to any property, then it's your own fault.

Seriously, I'm not taking any blame if some retard goes and sets his house on fire with this.

But I'm sure none of you are stupid enough to do that...

Right?

Step 1: A History of Thermite

Also called thermit, thermite was invented in 1895 by a German chemist called Hans Goldschmidt. Because of this, the reaction is often called the "Goldschmidt reaction" or "Goldschmidt process". The original purpose of his creation was to help extract metals without the use of carbon (smelting), as this would enable them to be extracted in a more pure form. However, he soon realised that he would make much more money from his shiny new patent if the thermite were to be used in welding. In 1899, the first industrial use of thermite was carried out, for the welding of tram tracks in Essen, Germany.

When thermite ignites (which is not easy to achieve), the following reaction takes place:

Fe2O3 + 2Al --> Al2O3 + 2Fe

This means that the aluminium powder steals the oxygen from the iron, and bonds with it, giving out massive quantities of heat and light energy, and leaving poor old iron on its own, while aluminium goes off with the oxygen. Because of the temperatures involved, molten iron is thrown out everywhere - a thing to watch out for when you are preforming the reaction.

Step 2: So What Do You Need?

To make thermite, you need:

Substance Where you get it
- Aluminium powder - Inside an Etch - a - Sketch
- Iron oxide - Old tools, nails, anything iron, a battery, salt, water, and
some wires (Best if the battery is 9v)

- Fuel and oxidiser - A sparkler

Step 3: Goodbye, Etch - a - Sketch

Yep, that's right. Time to say goodbye to one of your favorite childhood toys.

First, smash it with a hammer over a sheet of paper - preferably newspaper. Next collect up the silvery powder that is inside it - this stuff is pure, uncut aluminium power of the finest caliber. Keep ahold of this.

Step 4: Electrolysis!

The next step is very fun indeed - electrolysis!

Pour out some water into a glass, and add salt until no more will dissolve in the water. Next, hook up a battery (Preferrably 9v) to two wires, and wrap the end of the POSITIVE wire around your iron object. Lower both wires, and the iron object into the water.

If it is working, then you will see a stream of bubbles appearing at the negative terminal. If not, then something is wrong. Check the connections, make sure the battery is not dead, and make sure the wires are OK.

If you can't get this to work, then just scraping rust of some rusty object will do fine.

Leave the apparatus overnight - when you are finished, use a coffee filter, to filter the rust out of the water. Dry out the filter by placing it under a lamp, over a radiator, or in direct sunlight. You can then scrape off the iron oxide.

Step 5: Mixing the Two

When you have got some aluminium powder along with the iron oxide, the two must be mixed together in a 3:1 mass ratio (3 times as much iron oxide as aluminium powder by weight). Mix the two, preferrably not with your fingers.

Now, take the time to give yourself a pat on the back. You've just made a batch of thermite!

See that silvery stain on the back of your shirt you just made? That's the aluminium powder. And it's hell to get off.

Thermite is relatively safe to store, as it only ignites at very high temperatures. Of course, that means that it's harder to use (magnesium ribbon should get it going).

Have fun with some hardcore chemistry!