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How to make a flying ball

A flying balloon is perfect for any holiday event. Typically, purchased flying balls are filled with light volatile gas such as helium. At home, it is almost impossible to get such gas without special equipment. But helium is not the only gas that can be used for such purposes. At home, without unnecessary labor, you can get hydrogen, which is also suitable.
But here it is worth considering that hydrogen is extremely explosive, so it is undesirable to make more than one ball. And in general, the whole experiment must be carried out outside the doman and in the open air.

Will need


For experience, we need:
  • - aluminium foil,
  • - pipe cleaner (Titanium, Mole) - Caution! Alkali!
  • - plastic bottle,
  • - bucket with water,
  • - rubber ball,
  • - funnel
  • - water
  • - etc.

Do it yourself flying ball


When conducting the experiment, be sure to use rubber gloves and special glasses to protect your eyes!
First, roll the kitchen foil into small strips and cut into small pieces. And collect in a small plastic cup.
How to make a flying ball

We got 7 grams, you can take more foil, the reaction will take place faster and there will be more hydrogen.
How to make a flying ball

We also take a pipe cleaner (TITAN or MOLE) in granules, 19 grams is quite enough for us. Be careful this caustic substance, wear rubber gloves. In case of contact with hands, rinse thoroughly with water.
How to make a flying ball

Next, we take a plastic bottle filling it with one third of water, and lower it into a bucket of cold water. For convenience, we take a funnel and pour out our aluminum crumbs and a pipe cleaner into the bottle, then quickly put the ball on the neck of the bottle so as not to release hydrogen. It is better to isolate the neck of the bottle with electrical tape.
How to make a flying ball

The reaction begins, the ball is completely inflated in about 15-20 minutes, the plastic bottle is heated and so that it does not fuse from overheating, it dips it in a bucket of cold water.
How to make a flying ball

The reaction of aluminum, sodium hydroxide and water produces sodium tetrahydroxoaluminate and hydrogen, which inflates our ball.
How to make a flying ball

When the ball is pumped up, squeeze the bottle so that part of the hydrogen from the bottle goes into the ball, twist the tail stronger and remove the electrical tape, then remove the ball from the neck.
How to make a flying ball

We wash the tail with water, if our ball is not fully inflated, you can blow it a little like a regular ball.
How to make a flying ball

We ask someone to hold the ball and tightly tie the tail.
How to make a flying ball

The ball flies very well, and will delight you and your children. To prevent the ball from blowing off in half a day, use gel for flying balls, for example, “hi float”.
How to make a flying ball

Conclusion


At the end of the experiment, I would like to add that such a ball will descend to the ground after about 6-12 hours of flight. To increase this time, you can use a special gel that is scrubbed in specialized stores selling such balls.
Be careful: a pipe cleaner (Titanium, Mole) is used to make the ball - this is caustic alkali, be extremely careful!
Also, do not bring the inflated ball close to the fire. Otherwise, the hydrogen in the ball smells like a loud bang.

Watch the video


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Comments (3)
  1. Mister X
    #1 Mister X Guests September 17, 2018 10:20
    1
    Is the bottle fused? Where does it fuse ??? Down the river?
    1. EN
      #2 EN Guests April 11, 2019 12:21
      0
      The author with the wording generally has problems.
  2. Ivan
    #3 Ivan Guests July 22, 2019 8:18 p.m.
    0
    flammable ball is obtained.

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