Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Torch Danger 
Name: Camp Wesley Woods
Status: Educator
Age: 20s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
We are re-working our geology class for our environmental education program. One of the activities we have is a burn station for different elements. Can you recommend any minerals that would work well with a blow torch?
Also, would you recommend burning nickle nitrate?


Replies:
For safety reasons I would not recommend taking a blow torch to any chemical substance. It might explode. It might give off toxic or irritating gases-- any fluoride containing minerals [and there are lots of them] for example might give off extremely toxic F2 gas. It might produce respirable particles of metal that could enter the lungs and cause serious effects.

The products of reaction with a blow torch should be thoroughly researched before the torch is ever turned on. This is literally dealing with fire.

Vince Calder


Click here to return to the Environmental and Earth Science Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory