the time i blew up the chem lab

Ok, so for friday afterschool, i was preparing a "visual presentation" going along with my oral report. My visual presentation consisted of mixing 3 parts kno3(potassium nitrate) and 2 parts sugar, boiling it, letting it harden onto aluminum foil, which makes a medium class explosive. I had done this experiment at home before using potassium nitrate from....a valid source....Unfortunately, several variables affected the outcome:

1. heat:surface area, the direct flame from bunsen burner was very small, while my stove spread out the heat
2. my stove isn't as hot as the bunsen burner
3. I used more kno3 and sugar than i did at home(hehehe)
4. different grade kno3 perhaps
5. i was a dumbass and didn't stir the mixture enough at the bottom, it stuck, hardened to the bottom, and ignited.


my chem demo blew up in front of me while we were making it. My teacher was trying to make the equation on the board while i was stirring it, and i was staring into space until...HISSSSS a huge pink flame leapt up from the beaker which was approximately 4 feet high(to the ceiling, it may have been highere if it hadn't been contained) and the thickness of a basketball.

it was quite a sight, as i stood there dazed, looking at the flame (i had been quick enough to get my hand out of the way while stirring it, leaving only singe marks). Massive amounts of smoke had been formed (this was the main purpose of making it...the smoke)

my teacher ran back in the room with a smoke mask and grabbed my bag...luckily it was a short reaction, and nobody got hurt. now i have to do a goddam poster instead of blowing stuff up...oh well it was fun

Fin.