1/26/24, 1:05 PM How to Make Thermite: A Fiery Mix of Iron Oxide and Aluminum

Thermite Formula: Ingredients, Tips, and

Everything You Need to Know
A step-by-step guide to making thermite at home, complete with safety information
Co-authored by Bess Ruff, MA and Johnathan Fuentes
Last Updated: December 16, 2023 Fact Checked

Of all the do-it-yourself chemistry experiments found online, there’s almost nothing cooler
—or maybe hotter—than a thermite reaction. With a fire that reaches 2,200 °C (3,990 °F),
this simple mixture of rust and aluminum powder burns hot enough to turn rocks into lava.
Thermite is famously used for welding since it produces molten iron as a byproduct, though
it has tons of other applications too. Though you can make thermite yourself with the right
preparation and safety gear, remember that it is extremely dangerous and should only be
done in a lab.

Things You Should Know

Thermite is a 1:3 mixture (by mass) of metallic aluminum and iron oxide. It burns at
2,200°C (3,990 °F), producing molten iron, and is often used for welding.[1]
Making thermite is extremely dangerous. Take safety precautions like wearing a
welding mask, fireproof apron, and protective clothing.
To make thermite, combine powdered iron oxide and aluminum powder in a ceramic
container. Insert a magnesium strip into the mixture, light it, and stand back.
Do not attempt to extinguish burning thermite with water. Let it burn out. Never
remove your safety gear when working with thermite.[2]

Part Part 1 of 2:
1
Safety Precautions
Select an area that’s free of flammable material. Ideally, make thermite in a
1 laboratory equipped with heat screens and ventilation. Making thermite
outside is not recommended because wind can carry burning material away from
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1/26/24, 1:05 PM How to Make Thermite: A Fiery Mix of Iron Oxide and Aluminum

within a 4 meter (13.1 ft) radius of the reaction. Make sure that there no metals
with low melting points, such as lead, tin, cadmium, or zinc, within a 4 meter
(13.1 ft) radius either.[3]
Do not make thermite inside your home or garage.
Keep children and pets away from the thermite. Never let children do this
experiment.

Use ceramic containers rather than metals to minimize fire risk. Since
2 you'll be burning metals, the thermite fire can burn through a lot of
substances, including thick metals. Ceramics, such as clay flower pots, can hold
the fire without melting.[4]
Look online for ceramics labeled as having a high heat point. Remember,
thermite burns at 2,200 °C (3,990 °F).
Even ceramics can break from excess heat. Stand back once the reaction
starts in case the container breaks, spreading burning material.

Wear a welding mask to protect your face and eyes. In addition to being
3 extremely hot, thermite emits UV radiation that can damage your vision. A
welding mask provides the best protection because it's designed for use with
burning metals, such as thermite.[5]
Do not look into the flame directly. Use a welder's mask or welder’s glasses.
Looking at the flame directly could cause permanent eye damage.
If you don't have a welding mask, wear a pair of dark sunglasses with full UV
protection. However, the thermite can still damage your eyes if you look at it
directly.

Put on safety gear, including gloves and a fireproof apron. Choose a pair
4 of sturdy, heatproof gloves, and make sure the fireproof apron covers your
whole body. Wear thick sleeves, pants that cover your exposed skin, and close-
toed shoes.[6]
Thermite is very dangerous, so protective gear is essential.
Take precautions to prevent your clothing from catching fire. Burning clothing
is difficult to remove and can cause severe burns.

Part
Part 2 of 2:
2
Making the Thermite
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1/26/24, 1:05 PM How to Make Thermite: A Fiery Mix of Iron Oxide and Aluminum

Use powdered iron oxide, aluminum powder, and a strip of magnesium.

1 Choose finely powdered iron oxide so that it reacts easily with the aluminum,
forming thermite. Make sure the magnesium strip is very thin so that it burns
easily and ignites the material. For a basic thermite experiment, you'll need 3
grams of aluminum powder and 9 grams of iron oxide.[7]
Do not try to grind up the metals into powder yourself, as this is dangerous.
Buy them in jars from a chemical company or online. Aluminum powder can
also be obtained from a paint store or even an Etch-a-Sketch.

Dry out your iron oxide in an oven or over a Bunsen burner. Set the oven
2 on a medium temperature, such as around 200 °F (93 °C). Heat the iron oxide
for 1 hour. If you're using a Bunsen burner, place the iron on an evaporating dish
over the flame for 1 hour.[8]
Allow the iron oxide to completely cool before you do the experiment.
Use caution when using a bunsen burner. The open flame is a fire risk. Never
leave it unattended. When you’re finished, make sure the gas supply is shut
off completely.

Mix the aluminum powder and iron oxide on a sheet of paper. Add 3
3 grams of aluminum powder and 9 grams of iron oxide. Swirl the metals
together or shake them between 1 piece of paper and another. Continue to blend
until they are fully mixed.
If you increase the quantity of the metals, stick to a 1:3 ratio (by mass) of
aluminum to iron oxide. But don’t work with larger amounts until you’re
experienced in working with thermite, since this experiment is very dangerous.
Never mix them in a metal container, as this can contaminate the project or
cause an unwanted reaction.[9]

Pour the mixture into a ceramic container, such as a clay flower pot.
4 Ceramics are less likely to melt with the heat of the thermite. It's best to place
the ceramic container into a second ceramic container, in case the first one
shatters from the heat.[10]
Do not light thermite on an ice block, as it may cause a dangerous explosion.
Ice is not an option for controlling the heat of the flame.

Insert the magnesium strip into the mixture. Make sure that your
5 magnesium strip is at least 6.5 cm (2 inches) long.[11]

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1/26/24, 1:05 PM How to Make Thermite: A Fiery Mix of Iron Oxide and Aluminum

Use a longer magnesium strip to give yourself time to step back before the
thermite ignites.

Light the magnesium strip with a propane torch or stick lighter. Stand at
6 least 4 meters (13 feet) away from the thermite to watch the reaction.[12]
Use sparklers to light the thermite if you don’t have magnesium available.
Keep your safety gear, especially your eye protection, on at all times.
Do not use matches to light the magnesium strip (or sparkler) since matches
could drop burning material into the thermite, causing it to ignite while you are
standing next to it.

Let the thermite burn out completely. Remember: a thermite reaction is

7 irreversible once it starts. Don’t try to extinguish it using water. This could
cause an explosion.[13]
Keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case of secondary fires.[14] You cannot use
a fire extinguisher to put out the reaction itself, but you can use it to prevent
fire from spreading to other areas once the reaction has stopped.

Community Q&A

Question

What can you use Thermite for?

ChemGenius
Community Answer

Making iron nodes. It used to be used to weld train tracks together. The military
uses it to quickly destroy valuable information or equipment in a hurry during war.

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1/26/24, 1:05 PM How to Make Thermite: A Fiery Mix of Iron Oxide and Aluminum

Question

Is it possible to use aluminum oxide instead powdered aluminum?

Community Answer

No. Thermite is an oxidation of the aluminum powder to aluminum oxide and a

concurrent reduction of the iron oxide powder to iron. The aluminum and iron
oxidation and reduction, respectively, form the two half cells of the thermite redox
reaction. If you start with aluminum oxide and iron, you have the stable products
after a thermite reaction, not the unstable reagents needed to make a thermite
reaction.

Question

Can the thermite reaction cause an explosion or just cause spontaneous

combustion?

ChemGenius
Community Answer

For iron thermite, it burns violently. If you replace the iron oxide with copper oxide
it explodes. A thermite mixture made from iron oxide & alumimium powder mixed
together can explode for no reason.

See more answers

Tips

Warnings

Allow the thermite to burn out completely. A thermite reaction is irreversible once it
starts.

Keep a fire extinguisher nearby for secondary fires only. You cannot put out a
thermite fire using a fire extinguisher.

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1/26/24, 1:05 PM How to Make Thermite: A Fiery Mix of Iron Oxide and Aluminum

Use a propane torch or stick lighter to ignite the magnesium strip. Don’t use a
match or anything that could break and fall into the thermite. This could cause it to
ignite while you are standing next to it.

Do not add anything to the thermite once it ignites.

Stand at least 4 meters (12 feet) back from the thermite after you ignite the
magnesium strip.

Put a ceramic dish under the thermite to catch the resulting molten iron.

Making thermite is extremely dangerous. A thermite reaction can cause severe

burns and nearby areas to catch fire.

Keep children and pets away from your thermite.

Do not let children participate in this experiment in any way.

Don’t ignite thermite on public property, streets, sidewalks, or other thoroughfares.

Check the laws of your country, region, and city to ensure that making thermite is
not explicitly illegal, or that doing so does not violate other laws. For example, in
the U.K., there are strict laws regulating the creation of incendiary devices.[15]

Call emergency services immediately if the thermite causes a secondary fire, or if

you or someone in the vicinity is injured.

Don't put thermite on ice. This could cause an explosion.[16]

Things You'll Need

Powdered aluminum

Powdered iron oxide

Magnesium strip or sparkler

2 clay pots

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1/26/24, 1:05 PM How to Make Thermite: A Fiery Mix of Iron Oxide and Aluminum

Welder's mask or sunglasses

Fireproof apron

Sturdy, heatproof gloves

Propane torch or stick lighter

Thick clothing

Close-toed shoes

Oven or Bunsen burner

Evaporating dish (optional)

Heatproof mat (optional)

References

1. https://rutchem.rutgers.edu/cldf-demos/1020-cldf-demo-thermite-reaction
2. https://rutchem.rutgers.edu/cldf-demos/1020-cldf-demo-thermite-reaction
3. http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resource/res00000724/the-thermite-reaction?
cmpid=CMP00005969
4. http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resource/res00000724/the-thermite-reaction?
cmpid=CMP00005969
5. http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resource/res00000724/the-thermite-reaction?
cmpid=CMP00005969
6. http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resource/res00000724/the-thermite-reaction?
cmpid=CMP00005969
7. http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resource/res00000724/the-thermite-reaction?
cmpid=CMP00005969
8. http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resource/res00000724/the-thermite-reaction?
cmpid=CMP00005969
9. http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resource/res00000724/the-thermite-reaction?
cmpid=CMP00005969

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1/26/24, 1:05 PM How to Make Thermite: A Fiery Mix of Iron Oxide and Aluminum

10. https://chem.washington.edu/lecture-demos/thermite
11. https://chem.washington.edu/lecture-demos/thermite
12. http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resource/res00000724/the-thermite-reaction?
cmpid=CMP00005969
13. https://rutchem.rutgers.edu/cldf-demos/1020-cldf-demo-thermite-reaction
14. https://rutchem.rutgers.edu/cldf-demos/1020-cldf-demo-thermite-reaction
15. https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/explosives
16. https://youtu.be/w6cMmk8LZgQ?t=124

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