Think “Big Bang Cannons” from the Conestoga company in PA. A little calcium carbide, (also known as “Bangsite”) a little water, and a source of ignition. A flint spark at the breech of the cannon is all you need for a big bang at the cannon muzzle end.
George S. Smith III
Corporate EH&S Manager
Thermo Fisher Scientific
6722 Bickmore Ave.
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From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Jeff Tenney
Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2012 8:17 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] identify demo?
The reaction that takes place inside the pumpkin uses calcium carbide to generate a very small amount of acetylene gas. When the gas is ignited, a tremendous amount of energy is released, which pushes the pieces of previously carved pumpkin out. Acetylene gas is very explosive. Mixtures with air containing between 3% and 82% acetylene are explosive on ignition.
The above is from: http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/exploding-pumpkin
It is just an explosive way to try to spark students interests in chemistry.
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Mary Beth Mulcahy
Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2012 10:00 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] identify demo?
Does anyone know what the demo in this experiment was suppose to be? I'm guessing ethanol environment that was suppose to be sparked and then fire shooting out of the openings in the pumpkin.
http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_c3#/video/bestoftv/2012/10/31/bts-exploding-pumpkin-goes-awry.weht
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