In this project I will be making a Goblet of Fire.

This project was of course inspired by one of the Harry Potter films.

To do this project, we will be making a flammable calcium acetate jelly. Now this may sound odd, though this is the same compound that is in Sterno kits. We will then color the calcium acetate with copper sulfate to turn the fire green.

I made my calcium acetate from calcium carbonate that I got from eggshells. I then converted the calcium carbonate into calcium acetate by adding the egg shells into the vinegar and letting the reaction slowly take place. I have a video on my channel that shows this process.

This project must be carried out with proper safety in mind. These flames can spill and get out of control if handled incorrectly.

Supplies

Calcium Acetate Powder

Distilled Water

Isopropyl Alcohol or Ethyl Alcohol

Copper 2 Sulfate Pentahydrate

3 Beakers (or glass dishes for mixing)

Step 1: Dissolve Calcium Acetate in Water

This step is simple. It just requires you to mix an amount of calcium acetate with water.

It is recommended to keep the ratios the same here, though it can be scaled up and down depending on how

much acetate jelly you want to make.

Make approximately a 3M solution of calcium acetate.

To do this math is easy. The molar mass of calcium acetate is 158.138g/mol. This means that every 1000mL of water there is 158.138grams of calcium acetate.

-Add 17 grams of calcium acetate to 30mL of water

This ratio is important because the calcium acetate jelly will be added to alcohol and the calcium acetate spreads out evenly in both solutions making a jelly which is a stable mixture between solid and liquid.

Step 2: Prepare Alcohol Solution and Mix Slowly

In this step, we will measure out 170mL of 90% isopropyl alcohol into another beaker.

Following this, you slowly add into the 3M calcium acetate solution from the last step into the alcohol slowly.

As we add it in, we can see a jelly like substance crashing out of solution. As we slowly add it in and stir after each addition, we see the jelly take shape.

Once there is enough of the jelly present, the mixture will go from liquid to almost solid within about 30 seconds.

From here you can continue to add in the calcium acetate until you reach desired consistency of the jelly

The more acetate you add, the more fire the jelly will become.

Step 3: Add in Copper 2 Sulfate

Copper 2 Sulfate can be found online or in store as an algae or root killer. This substance has a beautiful blue color to it, which when it burns burns a nice green.

This is where some deviation of the originally plan can happen. We can add in a variety of different chemicals to make the fire burn the color we choose. I chose green because I had some extra copper 2 sulfate on hand, though I will list some other things to produce a different set of colors.

We just need to crush up some copper 2 sulfate and add it into the calcium acetate jelly. Once we add it, we will want to mix thoroughly as to make sure to spread the copper 2 sulfate all around. This will give all of the flames a nice beautiful green color.

The amount of copper 2 you add is completely up to you, and I noticed there isn't a huge difference when you add lot, to when you add very little.

I mix everything in my cauldron for easy of transferring the colored calcium acetate jelly.

TIP: Mix the copper 2 sulfate (or other material) in the final container you plan to burn it in. This container will have a lot of residue from the calcium acetate that will stick and be hard to clean.

List of Metals that Burn Other Colors

WARNING( SOME OF THESE METALS ARE VERY DANGEROUS AND EVEN POSSIBLY EXPLOSIVE WHEN HEATED)

Blue-whiteTin, lead

White Magnesium, titanium, nickel, hafnium, chromium, cobalt, beryllium, aluminum

Crimson (deep red)Strontium, yttrium, radium, cadmium

Red Rubidium, zirconium, mercury\

Pink-red or magenta Lithium

Lilac or pale violet Potassium

Azure blue Selenium, indium, bismuth

Blue Arsenic, cesium, copper(I), indium, lead, tantalum, cerium, sulfu

rBlue-green Copper(II) halide, zinc

Pale blue-green Phosphorus