WOBBL2 Al(s) + Fe2O3(s) -> Al2O3(s) + 2 Fe(s)
how hot does it get thermite
OK
2 Al(s) + Fe2O3(s) -> Al2O3(s) + 2 Fe(s) releases 850.4 kJ per mole as written and goes forward on its own at 298 K (dG = -838.9 kJ, K = 10^147). Left to keep its own heat it reaches 3139 K, where boiling or melting holds it.
reaction enthalpy
-850.4 kJ
Gibbs energy
-838.9 kJ
equilibrium constant
K = 10^147
adiabatic temperature
3139 K
Confidence high
- passed element and charge balance, data, adiabatic energy balance, equilibrium
Simulation
Checks
| status | check | result |
|---|---|---|
| pass | element and charge balance | Al, Fe, O and charge balance exactly |
| pass | data | every species comes from NASA Glenn thermodynamic data |
| pass | adiabatic energy balance | with the reaction complete and nothing dissociating, the products reach 3139 K (stopped at 3139 K, where a product changes phase and soaks up the rest of the heat). Cantera's full equilibrium did not converge here (its multiphase solver stopped short) |
| pass | equilibrium | K is 10^147, so the reaction runs to completion |
Species at 298 K
| species | phase | moles | H, kJ/mol | S, J/(mol K) | data |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al | s | -2 | -0.00 | 28.30 | NASA Glenn thermodynamic data |
| Fe2O3 | s | -1 | -825.31 | 87.40 | NASA Glenn thermodynamic data |
| Al2O3 | s | +1 | -1675.70 | 50.97 | NASA Glenn thermodynamic data |
| Fe | s | +2 | -0.00 | 27.32 | NASA Glenn thermodynamic data |
Assumptions
- The products come from the named reaction 'thermite'.
- Standard states, 1 bar for gases and 1 mol/kg for species in water, with data from NASA Glenn thermodynamic data (JANAF and ATcT based).
- Gases are ideal.
- Thermodynamics says how far and with how much heat a reaction goes, not how fast. A reaction that can go may still need a spark, a catalyst or time.