MadSci Network: Chemistry
Query:

Re: What happens to table salt when it is heated?

Date: Mon May 29 13:23:58 2000
Posted By: Peter Traill, Undergraduate, Chemistry, University of Dundee
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 958439743.Ch
Message:

 Well Michael, 
The cracking is due to the water in the salt boiling and producing [steam - 
D.B.] at that temperature, the same happens when you put bacon in a frying 
pan. The jumping could be the gas pushing the salt around. My lab partner 
"Bunsen" Hamilton has done your experiment and got the temperature up to 
about 350C before she burnt her hand (better wear gloves the next time!) 
but you could get it up to about 800C before the salt melts - then you get 
a orange flame from the sodium in table salt. Don't go above 1000C 'cause 
the spoon melts then !
 Hope this helps.
Peter "beaker" Traill 

Dan Berger adds:

Above 800C or so, water will decompose into hydrogen and oxygen, so you 
would get all sorts of interesting effects.



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