Discrepant Event "The Second Boil"

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  • Added: 16-Jun-07

The red hot quarter boils methanol, twice... A Discrepant Event is an event that defies eveything you already know. Email this one to a friend. Can you explain this anomaly? The explanantionThe intense heating allows the copper to mix with (or float up through) the nickel cladding. The sudden release of bubbles is likely an example of the "Leidenfrost" effect. The alcohol forms a vapour layer around the coin slowing the rate at which heat can escape. When the liquid stops boiling, the insulating vapour layer around the coin collapses and the coin-liquid contact is more efficient at transferring heat away from the metal. This results in a sudden rush of bubbles as the coin cools to below the boiling point of methanol. The collapse of the gas layer also reveals the new colour of the coin. This mimics an exothermic phase transition and is a dramatic way to illustrate how a physical (or chemical) change can result in a sudden release of energy.

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Discrepant Event "The Second Boil"

18 Comments | Add Comment
  • My two cents

    Leidenfrost effect . . . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leidenfrost_effect

    By buddy6542169 1182107819 Reply Spam [+3] Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • i think i have a way shorter exlanation

    is it posably the quater double boiling from the chemical reaction from the copper that is on the quarter reacting to the methanol? just a guess

    By Bazil stagg drummond 1200019406 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • I think

    The reason why this happens is because there's very little methanol under the quarter and the quarter has a rim, so it traps the gas under the quarter and acts as an insulation to not let more methanol touch the quarter. Then when the gas under the quarter reaches a certain amount, it lifts the quarter up and slips out from underneath, which lets more methanol touch the quarter so it boils as well. The bottom of the quarter is hotter at that point then the top. If you look closely you see that the 2nd boiling effect comes from underneath the quarter.

    By AknotWot 1182061506 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Why don't you blow

    stuff up?

    By Numb Nutz 1182006802 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • RAPID COMBUSTION

    The first boil is heat energy from the hot quarter exciting the water molecules.The second boil is the hydroxide composed in the methanol,in which the single oxygen atoms causes easy oxidation with the energetic heated metal.As a result the single hydrogen atoms are released,causing the second boil.

    By mighty joe young 1200645444 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • So easy

    the methanol is heated to the point of evaporation which gives of the bubbles.... not only on the top and sides but underneath! the underside has built up pressure as it sitting their and is released after a certain point!

    By stiffman 1184073746 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Heat then Metal Reaction?

    I'm not sure why, but I think its first because of the heat, then the quarter reacts with the methanol when it cools. Since there is something Called the Tripple Point the Quarter when hot doesn't react the same.

    By mjsmikey 1181968099 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • not a double boil

    Boiling is when a liquid gets hot enough to become a gas
    What happens the second time is a chemical reaction that gives off a gas but the gas that is released the second time is not methanol (which is what would be given off in a boiling reaction to heat)
    I'm not sure what the exact chemical equation would be but there is definitely a distinct difference between boiling (first reaction) and gaseous chemical reaction (second reaction)

    By Krazie243 1181954199 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • ???

    it doesnt double, it just moves and sizzles. What ment to happen?

    By Sexy :P 1200611021 Reply Spam [-1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • RINGTONESET dot NET

    Great ringtones visit RINGTONESET dot NET

    By ianthehugechickfc 1191405582 Reply Spam [-1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • im guessing but...

    i think ure right but in a different way to how i think it boils. the heat of the quarter boils the methanol for a certain amount of time but because it is so hot it is stoping the reaction between the copper in the quarter and the methanol. when it cools the methonal reacts quickly, the reaction is exothermic so it releases a great amount of heat which is enough to boil the methonal again.
    Oh and is that copper quarter new because if not you could be getting a different reaction between what ever is on it. just something for you to try out :)

    By olz =) 1182070881 Reply Spam [-1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • I think

    you're all nerds. (Don't worry, nerds rule the world... you'll all be making millions while I'm pumping gas cause I don't get it at all)

    By Boomer888 1185262478 Reply Spam [-2] Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Logical Explanation

    Copper, as we all know, is some pretty hot $hit. When hot $hit reacts with methanol it usually double boils, not because methanol is hot $hit but because it is jealous. It can't stand copper being hot $hit while it remains plain and simple "methanol". Common knowledge really; I love science.

    By killimanjaro 1182872291 Reply Spam [-2] Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Use of wrong words..............

    Some people need to learn the difference between "then" and "than".... I see it a lot in these comment sections.....

    BTW .... the double boiling is because of two different chemicals in the methanol. Each rects at a different temperature.

    By g_man_mo 1182137069 Reply Spam [-2] Moderate Up Moderate Down
    • Correction

      I think that you need to brush up on your vocabulary. The only time that I saw 'then' was when the word 'then' was necessary. I did not see any instance in which 'then' was used in place of 'than'.

      By Dark Wing Duck 1182579028 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
    • DWD

      I think it was in one of the "reply" sections.... I do , however, see a lot of people usng "then" when the word "than" should be used....
      Sorry I offended you , but I get so tired of peope not using correct English... you'd have thought they never went to school, sometimes.... I do realize that "U" instead of "you" and other shortcuts are used, but I mean ... okay like ...to, too and two. I see a lot of that being used in the wrong sense.
      read it and delete it , is my motto..........

      By liljon51 1182600082 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
    • hey stupids

      just watch

      By DJGG 1185081339 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
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