Can you say, “kaboom?”
Have you ever heard of molten salt before? It turns out, molten salt, which is salt in a liquid state after being heated to more than 1,474 degrees Fahrenheit (801 degrees Celsius), can conduct electricity and be used as a solvent, according to moltensalt.org. It also reacts quite interestingly with water.
The experiment, conducted by The Backyard Scientist, was inspired by a video he saw entitled What We Made, which shows molten salt triggering small explosions in water. "I had to try this for myself. I was extremely curious why it exploded," he explained on Reddit.
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Now, combining salt and water seems innocent enough, so what exactly happens that causes the molten salt to explode? It is not entirely clear, but there are a couple possible explanations.
First is something called the Leidenfrost Effect. To put it simply, if you heat a substance (like salt) way beyond the temperature of water’s boiling point, the Leidenfrost Effect can occur and result in what is called a steam explosion. If the temperature of the salt is extremely hot, a thin layer of vapor will form on the surface, insulating the salt from the water.
Once the salt is poured into the water, the vapor around the salt becomes superheated, causing an increase in pressure. According to Reddit user midnight-cheeseater, “at the surface of the water, this high pressure steam can easily escape. But as the blob of molten salt sinks deeper, the pressurised steam is confined by the water around it. This causes the pressure to rise even further, even quicker, until it overcomes the water pressure holding it back and you get an explosion."
The second explanation, according to Reddit user Ontologian, is that water was folded into the salt and turned to steam, and the steam them compressed the salt and forced it into the water, breaking the Leidenfrost effect. This resulted in a “rapid heat transfer […] and ultimately a significantly greater steam production rate. At the same time the water closest to the center would most likely be compressed from the salt being forced into the water causing a compounding pressure wave which acted like a container and thus the explosion.”
However, there is a lot of debate on the reasons why. We will just have to wait for The Backyard Scientist to give a more definitive explanation.
Do not try this experiment at home, The Backyard Scientist was lucky he was not injured during the explosion. "First two times nothing happened, just a little splattering," he wrote in the video's description. "On the third try... BAM!"
Enjoy!
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Certainly! Molten salt is a fascinating subject within the realm of chemistry and materials science. Its properties are quite intriguing, especially when it comes to its ability to conduct electricity and act as a solvent at temperatures exceeding 1,474 degrees Fahrenheit (801 degrees Celsius), as mentioned in the article referencing moltensalt.org.
This unique state of salt allows it to interact with water in unexpected ways, as demonstrated by The Backyard Scientist's experiment. The experiment's aim was to explore the explosive reactions that occur when molten salt is introduced to water. Now, let's break down the concepts involved:
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Molten Salt: This refers to salt heated to extreme temperatures, turning it into a liquid state. Molten salt possesses unique properties such as its ability to conduct electricity and act as a solvent due to the breakage of ionic bonds.
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Leidenfrost Effect: This phenomenon occurs when a liquid, in this case, molten salt, is in contact with a surface significantly hotter than its boiling point. The resulting vapor insulates the liquid from the surface, causing it to levitate on its own vapor. When the salt is introduced into water, the sudden heating of the surrounding water causes a rapid increase in pressure, potentially leading to an explosion.
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Chemical Reaction: The interaction between the extremely hot molten salt and water leads to the generation of steam, which can create immense pressure. This pressure buildup might surpass the containment capabilities of the surrounding water, resulting in an explosive release.
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Debate and Uncertainty: Despite the hypotheses about the Leidenfrost Effect and the compression of steam forcing an explosion, there's ongoing debate and uncertainty about the exact mechanisms at play during this reaction. This highlights the complexity of the interaction between molten salt and water.
The article cautions against attempting this experiment due to its potential dangers, as evidenced by The Backyard Scientist's experiences. Safety concerns arise due to the unpredictable nature of these reactions, as highlighted by the unexpected explosion encountered during the experiment.
The curiosity and scientific exploration behind such experiments showcase the marvels of chemistry and the need for cautious experimentation in understanding complex reactions.
