Hydrogen Balloon.

The hydrogen balloon experiment was developed as a display of both a complete and incomplete combustion, the complete combustion being the combustion of hydrogen and the incomplete combustion being the rubber of the balloon.

Equipment:

• Balloons

•  100 ml volumetric flasks

•  sodium hydroxide 1 mol

• aluminium foil 

• 2x metre rulers

• Spatula

• masking tape 

• splint

• matches/lighter

Measurements for experiment :

30 ml 1 mol sodium hydroxide

A4 sheet Aluminium foil

Science behind it:

Metal reacts with the acid to create a salt and a gas.

Incomplete combustion

Chemical Formula...

2H2 + O2 ---> 2H2O

When ignited the hydrogen combine with the oxygen in a complete combustion to forms H20. The smoke that we can see is from the rubber, due to there not being enough oxygen to burn the rubber.

This is an exothermic reaction. Energy is released in the form of heat and light and sound.

An inappropriate use of hydrogen was the hindenburg, and due to hydrogens flammable nature, it exploded.

NOTES

• Complete combustion happens when there is a good supply of air. Carbon and hydrogen atoms in the hydrocarbon fuel react with oxygen in an exothermic reaction:

• carbon dioxide and water are produced

• energy is given out

Carbon dioxide is an atmospheric pollutant. Incomplete combustion produces other pollutants.

Incomplete combustion happens when the supply of air or oxygen is poor. Water is still produced, but carbon monoxide and carbon are produced. Less energy is released than during complete combustion.

For example, here is one possible equation for the incomplete combustion of propane:

propane + oxygen → carbon + carbon monoxide + water

C3H8 + 3O2 → C + 2CO + 4H2O

Soot

The carbon is released as fine black particles. We see this in smoky flames, and it is deposited as soot.