Bottled Heat

Parent Wizards: if you want to be able to explain to your kid wizard why this stuff does what it does, please see the science behind the spell at the bottom of the page.

A Note on Safety:  most spells can be done by kid wizards alone, but some may require Parent Wizards to supervise.

Ingredients

• canning jar with a lid
• thermometer
• steel wool
• vinegar

Casting the Spell

1. Wash all of the soap out of the steel wool. Set aside and let the steel wool dry.
2. Place the thermometer inside the jar and close the lid. Wait 5 minutes. Note the temperature.
3. Soak the steel wool in the vinegar for 2 minutes.
4. Ring out any excess vinegar from the steel wool.
5. Place the vinegar soaked steel wool inside the jar with the thermometer. Wait another 5 minutes. Note the temperature.
6. What happens?

The Science Behind the Spell:

• Vinegar removes the protective coating of the iron in the steel wool, allowing the iron to rust.
• Rust is the combination of iron with oxygen.
• The process of rusting is an exothermic reaction. It gives off heat energy. (An endothermic reaction means absorption of heat).
• The heat energy from the rusting process increased the temperature.
• Voila. Bottled heat!