Exothermic process

From Plastics Wiki, free encyclopedia

Exothermic Process Process that liberates heat. Chemical reaction where the energy content of the products is less than that of the reactants; heat is given out from the system.

Handwarmers can be passed out among the audience (for smaller groups there should be enough for each or at least every other student). Have the student click the metal disk inside the handwarmers to activate the crystallization. They should notice that the crystallization will begin at the metal disk and spread outward though the whole package. As an alternative, the large flask containing the sodium acetate solution can be used. To activate the crystallization, add a single seed crystal of sodium acetate. If the solution has been regenerated properly you should observe a long crystalline spike run out from the seed crystal and eventually spread through the whole solution. As the solution crystallizes, the system will give off heat.