Magic Wand Demo with Boric Acid (Green Fire)

DANGEROUS!

In chemistry you are told never to mix Sulfuric acid Potassium permanganate.

If you mix concentrated Sulfuric acid and Potassium Permanganate it creates the highly unstable manganese(VII) oxide (Mn2O7) which reacts violently with organic compounds and this can be shown through its action on cotton wool soaked in ethanol.

In this example the ethanol has been saturated with Boric Acid, so that once the ethanol has burned away the flame changes to green for a little bit of extra flare.

This little demo lets you show the dangers without risking life and limb.

Safety point!

Mn2O7 is corrosive, explosive and oxidising. Wear a face shield or goggles.