Gas syringe explosion

[Marama T]

Clamped gas syringe connected to a clamped side-arm test tube with stopper. Reaction of 2M HCl and magnesium ribbon, measuring the amount of gas released when varying the amount of Mg. Teacher decides to do a pop test with around 60mL of H2 in the syringe. Syringe plunger is propelled at great speed into a wall, showering kids, me, student teacher and her supervisor in shards of glass. Imagine if there had been someone standing in front of that wall... Note to self - no pop tests with the gas syringes. And it was only the second time we'd ever used them!

[RosalieL]

Oh my goodness!!! Are you all ok? That would have been such a fright! I hope the teacher and student teacher stuck around and helped with the clean up. So lucky no one was in the way of the plunger!

[Marama T]

Yes all ok, luckily. One kid had a bit of glass in his leg but it was pretty minor compared to how it could have been. The teacher was horrified and did most of the clean-up himself!

[Anna Z]

OMG !!!!! yes would never do a pop test with a gas syringe. Ours are used in the holders where they physically can't expel the plungers out all the way... for good reason as you've shown hey !!

[Marama T]

Yeah we had them in those clamps meant to stop the plunger coming out - the explosion bent the clamp! It was seriously full on.

[Anna Z]

Yeah we had them in those clamps meant to stop the plunger coming out - the explosion bent the clamp! It was seriously full on.

OMG !!

[Marama T]

Totally. It was insane. Upside - no one got badly hurt and the kids love a good explosion. Downside - we were all shocked and went home thanking the gods of science for their mercy.

[mtg]

Totally. It was insane. Upside - no one got badly hurt and the kids love a good explosion. Downside - we were all shocked and went home thanking the gods of science for their mercy.

Yep we all love an explosion. But we will give this one a miss.