======Burning Steel Wool with a 9 Volt Battery======


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**Alternative titles:** Steel Wool Fireworks Experiment
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Place a small amount of fine-grade steel wool (00 or 000) in a disposable metal baking pan.  
  - Gently pull the steel wool apart so the fibers are loosely spread.  
  - Touch both terminals of a 9-volt battery to the steel wool at the same time.  
  - Observe as sparks spread through the steel wool, making it glow and burn like tiny fireworks.  
  - Allow the reaction to finish. The fire will go out on its own once the steel wool is consumed.



====Links==== 
Steel wool and 9 volt battery Experiment - Kids Fun Science: 
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Survival- Starting a Fire with Steel Wool & 9V Battery! - The Outsider: 
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====Variations====
  * Try coarse vs. fine steel wool to compare how easily they ignite.   
  * Test with different metals (like aluminum foil) to see whether they burn as easily.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from sparks.  
  * Perform the experiment in a metal baking dish or pie pan to contain the fire.  
  * Only use small amounts of steel wool at a time.  
  * Do not attempt outdoors on a windy day, as burning particles can blow away.  
  * Keep water or a fire extinguisher nearby as a precaution.  
  * Only older children or teens should attempt this experiment under direct adult supervision.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Why does steel wool burn but a solid piece of iron doesn’t? (The thin strands have a high surface area exposed to oxygen, making combustion possible.)  
  * What chemical reaction is happening here? (Iron reacts with oxygen to form iron oxide, releasing heat and light.)  
  * Why is fine steel wool better for this experiment than coarse steel wool? (Fine strands heat up more quickly and ignite more easily because of greater surface area.)  
  * How is this similar to the metals used in fireworks? (Fireworks rely on burning metals like magnesium, aluminum, and iron to produce sparks and colors.)