Paper
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Paper is a thin material produced by pressing together moist fibres of cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets.
Contents
Properties
Paper consists of almost pure cellulose fibers, mixed with a few additives like chalk. Fresh paper is white, but since it's not 100% pure, the impurities will slowly oxidize in air, giving the paper a yellowish color. Although not soluble in solvents, the cellulose from paper will dissolve in Schweizer's reagent.
Paper reacts with acids differently: reaction with conc. sulfuric acid will cause it to turn black into amorphous carbon, reaction with conc. nitric acid will also cause it to break down with some nitrocellulose being produced, hydrochloric acid will break it down without charring, etc. Reaction with acetic anhydride will produce cellulose acetate. Unless treated, paper is very flammable and is often used to make fire.
Availability
Paper can be found in most libraries and office supplies stores.
DIY paper
You can make paper at home by extracting it from wood, old cotton cloths or other plant material.
Projects
- Writing paper
- Fuel
- Flash paper
- Make origami
- Cleaning wastes
- Transferring powders or granular materials
