======Writing With Fire======


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**Materials: **{{$demo.materials_description}}\\
**Difficulty: **{{$demo.difficulty_description}}\\
**Safety: **{{$demo.safety_description}}\\
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====
  - Dissolve sodium nitrate in a small volume of distilled water, stirring until fully dissolved.  
  - Lay a piece of filter paper flat on the heatproof mat.  
  - Use a paintbrush to apply the nitrate solution onto the paper in letters or patterns.  
  - Allow the paper to dry completely (air dry or use a hair dryer on low setting).  
  - Place the dry paper back on a heatproof mat.  
  - Ignite a wooden splint and carefully touch it to the treated writing.  
  - Observe the bright combustion of the written pattern, leaving the rest of the paper largely untouched.



====Links==== 
Fire Writing - ScienceBang: 
{{youtube>c63fg_LdZPM?}}\\

📄 How To Do a Fire Writing Demonstration - Lab Life: [[https://lablife.co.uk/how-to-do-a-fire-writing-demonstration/]]\\


====Variations====
  * Try different nitrate salts to see if the flame effect changes.  
  * Experiment with different types of paper (filter paper, card, or tissue) to observe differences.  
  * Use stencils to create shapes or designs for a more theatrical display.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Always wear safety glasses.  
  * Perform in a well-ventilated area and on a stable, heatproof surface.  
  * Keep a fire extinguisher or bucket of water nearby.  
  * Ensure no flammable materials are near the demonstration area.  
  * Do not inhale fumes produced during combustion.  
  * Handle all flames with care and supervise the demonstration at all times.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Why does the sodium nitrate-treated paper burn more easily than untreated paper? (Nitrates act as oxidizers, providing oxygen to sustain combustion.)  
  * What type of chemical reaction is occurring during fire writing? (A combustion reaction, which is highly exothermic.)  
  * Why does only the writing burn and not the rest of the paper? (The untreated areas lack the oxidizer, so they resist ignition under these conditions.)  
  * How does this demonstration illustrate the transfer of energy in a chemical reaction? (The combustion releases stored chemical energy as heat and light.)