Sarah Spivey, a meteorologist from STEM Academy Nimitz, is set to perform live science demonstrations on GMSA@9 every Wednesday. Tune in to witness the dramatic reaction between soft and shiny metals and water. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how to conduct the experiment yourself using potassium, paper towels, and beakers with water.
If you want to try your hand at this experiment at home, here’s what you’ll need: a small piece of potassium (available on Amazon), a paper towel, and a beaker with water. Remember to wear eye and hand protection while conducting the experiment.
To begin the experiment, first put on your eye and hand protection. Then, take the potassium and dry it on a paper towel. Next, place the potassium in a bowl of water and step back. Finally, watch as the potassium explodes in the bowl of water due to its exothermic reaction with H2O to form potassium hydroxide and hydrogen gas (Copyright KSAT 2023 – All rights reserved).
The science behind this reaction is fascinating – when potassium reacts with water, it forms potassium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. This exothermic reaction generates a lot of heat which can cause some of the potassium to catch fire during the experiment.
If you’re interested in having Sarah visit your school for a live science experiment on KSAT, fill out the form provided (Copyright 2024 by KSAT – All rights reserved).