======Steel Wool and Vinegar Exothermic Reaction======


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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:** Rusting Heat Demonstration
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Place steel wool in a beaker.  
  - Pour vinegar over the steel wool and let it soak for about one minute.  
  - Remove the steel wool and squeeze out excess vinegar.  
  - Wrap the steel wool around the base of a thermometer.  
  - Place both into a second beaker.  
  - Cover the beaker with paper or a lid to help retain heat, leaving a small hole for the thermometer.  
  - Record the initial temperature, then observe and record temperature changes over five minutes.



====Links==== 
Steel Wool and Vinegar Experiment | Energy - The Good and the Beautiful: 
{{youtube>Y3WtS0Os06A?}}\\

EXOTHERMIC REACTION: Steel Wool + Vinegar = HEAT - Science Kids: 
{{youtube>2ma1Dxf4FIg?}}\\

📄 Steel Wool & Vinegar Reaction - Science Kids: [[https://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/steelwoolvinegar.html]]\\


====Variations====
  * Try using different metals (e.g., aluminum foil or copper wire) to compare reactions.  
  * Soak the steel wool for longer or shorter times to see how preparation affects the reaction.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from splashes.  
  * Wear gloves when handling vinegar-soaked steel wool to avoid skin irritation.  
  * Dispose of used steel wool properly—do not leave damp steel wool in a closed container, as it may continue to react.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Why does the temperature increase when steel wool rusts? (Because oxidation is an exothermic reaction that releases heat.)  
  * What role does vinegar play in this reaction? (It removes the protective coating on the steel wool, exposing iron to oxygen.)  
  * Is rusting normally a fast or slow process? (Rusting is usually slow, but vinegar speeds it up by stripping away barriers.)  
  * How is this different from other exothermic reactions like combustion? (Rusting releases heat gradually, while combustion releases heat and light rapidly.)