======Hydrogen Mini Rocket======


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**Materials: **{{$demo.materials_description}}\\
**Difficulty: **{{$demo.difficulty_description}}\\
**Safety: **{{$demo.safety_description}}\\
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**Categories:** {{$demo.categories}}
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**Alternative titles:** Hydrogen–Oxygen Fuel Rocket
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Generate hydrogen gas by reacting zinc with hydrochloric acid.  
  - Generate oxygen gas by decomposing hydrogen peroxide with a catalyst such as manganese dioxide or yeast.  
  - Collect the gases in small containers or balloons.  
  - Mix hydrogen and oxygen in the correct proportions to form a combustible fuel mixture.  
  - Ignite the mixture with a flame or spark to launch a small container (such as a teat pipette bulb) forward.  
  - Observe the loud “pop” or explosive sound and the motion of the mini rocket.  




====Links==== 
Making Hydrogen Fueled Mini-Rockets - Beals Science: 
{{youtube>V6VPJA2jg7s?}}\\


📄 Micro Rocket Lab - Flinn Scientific: [[https://www.flinnsci.com/api/library/Download/73ea6e2a619444b5b3b6eabee20a81e0?srsltid=AfmBOoqZ9uQdqUN-JeLc0yv5UTwPhRRE9e4O4456xuUTtWjvaMjwZeCk]]\\

📄 Mini Rockets - U.S. Department of Energy: [[https://www1.eere.energy.gov/education/pdfs/solar_minirockets.pdf]]\\

====Variations====
  * Change the ratio of hydrogen to oxygen to see which mixture produces the most powerful launch.  
  * Try different catalysts for the hydrogen peroxide decomposition (manganese dioxide, potassium iodide, yeast).  
  * Add fins or a cone to the mini rocket for stability.
  * Use electrolysis to produce the hydrogen and oxygen.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Safety goggles, gloves, and lab apron required.  
  * Perform only under teacher supervision.  
  * Keep ignition sources away from gas generators until ready.  
  * Do not scale up the experiment — only small amounts of gas should be used.  
  * Ensure the rocket is not aimed at people or breakable objects.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Which types of chemical reactions are demonstrated in this experiment? (Double replacement, decomposition, combustion, synthesis)  
  * What is the balanced chemical equation for hydrogen combustion? (2H2 + O2 → 2H2O)  
  * Why is the correct ratio of hydrogen to oxygen important for the rocket’s power? (Only the stoichiometric ratio ensures all reactants are used, producing the most energy.)  
  * Why doesn’t the mixture react immediately when the gases are combined? (It requires activation energy from a flame or spark.)  
  * How is this demonstration similar to real rocket propulsion? (Both rely on rapid combustion of fuel with an oxidizer to release energy and create thrust.)