Hooked on Science: Make a hot ice sculpture

Hot ice may not seem possible, but it is. Learn how by turning a hand warmer into a hot ice sculpture.

Materials

* Two sodium acetate hand warmers

* Transparent glass

* Plate

Instructions

STEP 1: Activate one of the sodium acetate hand warmers. Cut open the hand warmer and remove some of the crystals.

STEP 2: Place the crystals in the middle of the plate.

STEP 3: Using the scissors, cut open the other sodium acetate hand warmer and pour the liquid contents into the transparent glass. Place the glass in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.

STEP 4: Slowly pour the liquid contents onto the crystals on the plate and observe.

Explanation

The hand warmer contains a supersaturated solution of water and sodium acetate. The crystals you placed on the plate starts a chain reaction, causing the solution to crystallize. This process is an exothermic reaction, which gives off heat.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website www.hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments that might get you hooked on science. Send him your science questions at jlindseyhookedonscience.com.