Hand Warmer

By Jessica, Jack, Griffin, and

Toby

Initial Design

Didnt isolate the substances

Requires a lot of materials

More materials = more money

Separation of reactants was fragile

and couldve easily caused preemptive
heating

Scotch Lining too expensive

First Method with Plastic Sealer

Too little air pressure to allow salt

bag to pop

Finalized Design

Minimal materials needed to

construct

Ensures ease of activation with

only one thing needed to pop

Same effectiveness of previous

models

Reusable flannel pouch with an

easy refill opening

How We Make Them

Inner Bag: Weaker green plastic, seal is weak

because we didnt let it cool before removing
plastic from sealer

Outer Bag: Stronger, ziploc bag plastic, seal is

strong due to cooling of seal before removal,
left ample space in bag as to keep it from
bursting when inner bag is popped

Why We Chose What We Chose

Initial T
(C)

Final T (
C)

Time (s)

Mass (g)

Change
T/m (C/g)

Change
T/t (C/s)

CHNaO

24.5

16.15

18

5.1

-1.64

-.46

MgSO

24.0

28.25

83

5.25

0.8105

.05

CaCl

24.05

33.75

25

5.1

1.9025

.39

LiCl

24.1

53.95

18

5.27

5.758

1.66

NHO

24.25

12.5

13

5.16

-2.281

-.90

NaCl

25.3

24.3

40

5.09

-0.1965

-.025

MgCl

25.3

27.1

34

5.00

.36

.05

SrCl

25.55

20.2

43

5.03

-1.0635

-0.638

Science Behind Heating

Chemical Equation: Reactants Products

LiCl + H2O Li + Cl + H2O + Heat

This reaction is an exothermic reaction, meaning that it produces heat

externally. The heat required to change the bonds during the reaction is less
than the heat released by the change of the bonds, so heat escapes into the
surrounding environment.
Heat produced through reaction: Q = mc(T)
T = 23.6C

mass(m) = 2g

Q = 2g * 4.186 J/gC * 23.6C

Specific Heat(c) of water = 4.186 J/gC

= -197.6 Joules of heat

Cost
For 100 Hand Warmers:

LiCl, 200 g: $19.75

Flannel, 6-8 yds: ~$36 - 48
Plastic: Available in Classroom
Water: Available in Classroom

Average Total: $61.75

Only need to charge $0.62 to break even.
Refill only needs to be $0.20

Marketability

Safe - only causes small amounts of skin irritation, barely noticeable

Really Warm - Temp. change of ~30

Stays warm for longer with flannel

Flannel pouches are reusable

Only need to charge at least 60 cents to break even!

Can be sold for $1 and get 38 back. More than half price profit!