Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Thermite with Aluminium Oxide?

Manifest - 21-12-2012 at 04:25

I recently have purchased aluminium oxide and iron oxide (aluminium oxide by mistake) to make thermite.

I'm wondering will this work and if not I'm thinking maybe I could reduce the aluminium.

Eddygp - 21-12-2012 at 04:33

What would you reduce it with? Iron oxide is already oxidized so it can't reduce aluminium oxide. It would be hilarious if it did.

Adas - 21-12-2012 at 04:42

Wikipedia says that Al2O3 is useful for dehydration of alcohols to alkenes.

Manifest - 21-12-2012 at 05:41

Quote: Originally posted by Eddygp  
What would you reduce it with? Iron oxide is already oxidized so it can't reduce aluminium oxide. It would be hilarious if it did.


If you're talking about the Thermite, no it can't be reduced with Aluminium oxide.

You could reduce it though with Charcoal and then do the thermite.

I should've read it :(

ScienceSquirrel - 21-12-2012 at 05:59

You are not going to reduce aluminium oxide with charcoal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium#Production_and_refine...

Eddygp - 21-12-2012 at 08:12

Maybe sodium will do the trick... but you should then get sodium. Why can't you forget about thermite and use it for other purposes?

Pyro - 21-12-2012 at 08:57

magnesium should work too no?

Manifest - 21-12-2012 at 09:05

Quote: Originally posted by Eddygp  
Maybe sodium will do the trick... but you should then get sodium. Why can't you forget about thermite and use it for other purposes?


I've got no other purposes to use it for. Might sell it :(

Next time I'll read it properly.