======Non-Burning Money======


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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:** Non-Burning Dollar Bill
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====Summary====                   
{{$demo.summary}}



====Procedure====  
  - Prepare a non-burning solution by mixing equal parts alcohol (ethanol or isopropyl) and water in a bottle. Add 2–3 tablespoons of table salt to make the flame more visible.
  - Set up two tubs: one filled halfway with water and the other with a thin layer of the non-burning solution.
  - Soak a dollar bill or paper in the alcohol-water solution until fully saturated.
  - Put on safety glasses.
  - Using tongs, hold the soaked bill or cloth over the tub of water.
  - Ignite it and observe as the alcohol burns with a visible flame while the bill remains intact.
  - Extinguish by dunking the bill briefly in water before handling it.
  - Ask students why the bill did not burn despite being in flames.



====Links==== 
Burning Money - Cool Science Experiment - Spangler Science TV: 
{{youtube>jh5Cc4ffN8c?}}\\

Chemistry Demonstration - How to Set a Dollar on Fire and Keep it from Burning - PBS News Hour: 
{{youtube>1A4CLaC4g9c?}}\\

📄🎞️ Non Burning Money - Michigan State University: [[https://pa.msu.edu/science-theatre/demos/non-burning-money.aspx]]\\

📄 Non-Burning Dollar Bill - JMU Chemistry Demonstrations: [[https://sites.lib.jmu.edu/chemdemos/]]\\


====Variations====
  * Use cloth instead of a dollar bill for a larger, more visible effect.
  * Compare results using different alcohol concentrations (e.g., 70% vs. 50%) to show the role of water.




====Safety Precautions====
  * Always wear safety glasses.
  * Keep the bottle of alcohol-water solution capped and well away from the flame.
  * Perform in a controlled environment with no open flames nearby.
  * Handle burning materials only with tongs and extinguish immediately in water.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Why does the alcohol burn while the dollar bill stays unharmed?
  * What property of water allows it to protect the bill from burning?
  * How would the outcome change if only alcohol was used without water?
  * What role does heat capacity play in this demonstration?
  * Why is it important to mix the alcohol with water rather than use pure alcohol?