Caroline Goldberg
Mr. Webb
Chemistry Blog
Being in Colorado in January was brutal for me. It turned out to be -13 degrees on average. While there, I had to buy hand warmers, and being a new chemistry student, I wondered how they work. I found an article (http://www.tommcmahon.net/2008/01/how-do-hand-war.html) that explained how these hand warmer packets work. The material inside the packet has a chemical reaction with the air, like how something rusts, and causes a chemical change by getting warmer. The vermiculite in the packet slows the release of heat so the heat can last for hours. Even though these warmers are great, they don't last forever. The iron in the packet eventually becomes iron oxide and the heat stops being released.
Even though this isn't breaking science news, I wanted to know how these hand warmers work and I had no idea that it took so many chemicals just to make them. I do find it interesting that certain chemicals can react to help people stay warm while in the cold mountains.
Nice Blog ! It is really fun to know that there are so many chemicals and reactions in hand warmers. I used to think that hand warmers are getting heat from electricity or they are transferring heat from other places. I am still wondering that what chemical reaction the hand warmers have to produce heat and how does the vermiculite slows the release of the heat. I think these reactions will make a connection to what we will learn next trimester, reactions and qualities.
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