Lab
Experiment #4
Lilly Creswick (w/ Michelle Kubrin)
Colorado School of Mines
Chemistry 121 section 2AB
Tace Rand
Dr. Caster, Dr. Falconer, Dr. Sower
September 20, 2016
Abstract: The Rocket Lab aimed to create a successful rocket made out of a pipet bulb filled with Acetylene and Oxygen gas. Different ratios of Oxygen and Acetylene gas were used to determine what would create the largest propulsion and launch the rocket bulb the furthest. A pipet bulb was used as the rocket and Oxygen and Acetylene gas were created through test tube reaction and captures in the pipet bulb. The mixture inside the bulb was then ignited on a launch pad and the distance of the flight was recorded. In this experiment, the results showed that the 1:1 ratio of Oxygen to Acetylene gas provided that largest reaction and largest propulsion of the rocket bulb. This means that, within this experiment, the most successful ratio of Oxygen to Acetylene gas for a rocket bulb would be 1:1. …show more content…
Multiple trials were done with different percentages of Oxygen and Acetylene in order to find out which ratio would provide the most propulsion and therefore create the most distance traveled for the rocket. In this lab, it is assumed that the furthest rocket launch would indicate the best ratio of Oxygen to Acetylene gas in the pipet bulb. In order to have a reaction between Oxygen and Acetylene gas, Acetylene gas must be created. To create pure Acetylene gas, this reaction takes place:
CaC_(2(s))+〖2H_2 O〗_((l)) □(→) C_2 H_(2(g))+Ca(OH)_(2(s))
After the Acetylene gas is created it is mixed with a certain amount of Oxygen gas to create a specific ratio. Once both gases are in the pipet bulb, the contents can be placed on a ramp and have the lighter with an open flame at the open end of the bulb. The second reaction that takes place