Burning Money

Scientific Concept: A combustion reaction involves a reaction with

alcohol and oxygen and gives rise to carbon dioxide and water.

Procedure:
1. Prepare the solution (50 mL of ethyl alcohol and 50 mL of water
2. Add the salt to the alcohol/water solution in the beaker (this helps
to produce a visible flame)
3. Soak the dollar bill in the alcohol/water solution so it is thoroughly
wet.
4. Use the tongs to pick up the bill from the solution.
5. IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTION: Move the 50:50 alcohol
solution away from where you are going to light the dollar bill.
6. Light the bill on fire over the plate and let it burn until the flame
goes out.

Explanation: When the bill is soaked into the solution, the water
molecules soak into the bill while the alcohol remains on the surface.
When the match is put to the bill, the alcohol is what actually burns.
The temperature at which the alcohol burns is not high enough to
evaporate the water and burn the bill. So, after the alcohol has
burned, the dollar bill is still slightly wet. and the fire goes out.

C2H5OH + 4 O2 ----> 2 CO2 + 3 H2O + heat energy