Small Bottle, HUGE Fireball (How Flame Jetting Works)

Reactions Science Videos | April 17, 2018

Learn more about CuriosityStream at https://curiositystream.com/reactions (CODE: reactions) Pouring gasoline, alcohol, or other fuel over a flame can cause a ten-foot fireball to shoot out and engulf an unsuspecting victim. This week on Reactions, we’re explaining the science of flame jetting and why it happens. Also, if you’re a chemistry teacher: the ACS Committee on Chemical Safety issued a safety alert (see link below), which recommends that the Rainbow Demonstration (performed on an open bench using flammable solvents like methanol) be discontinued immediately. This demo presents an unacceptable risk of flash fires and deflagrations that can cause serious injuries to students and teachers. Alternative experiments (see link below) are available that demonstrate the same rainbow colors but don’t use flammable solvents on an open bench.

Safety alert

Alternate demos

We made this video as the ACS contribution to a collaboration by a number of groups committed to helping prevent flame jetting incidents: US Chemical Safety Board, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), BEAR, Inc., Sterno Products, LLC, Office of Congressman Mike Thompson, ATF Fire Research Laboratory, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, American Burn Association, Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, Lamplight Farms, Jensen Hughes, Battelle, Health Canada and the Portable Fuel Container Manufacturers Association (PFCMA).

Sources:

Dangers of Flaming Drinks After Woman Catches On Fire While Having Shot

ATF Fire Research Laboratory Flame Jetting, 2 Gallon Container, 300 ml gasoline, Front View

ATF Fire Research Laboratory Gasoline Flame Jetting Videos

The Whoosh Bottle

The Science of Flame Jetting

Flame Jetting 101

Dangerous ‘Flame Jetting’ Phenomenon Kills Hundreds Every Year

Gasoline at home

The Problem

Hydrocarbon-Composition-of-Gasoline-Vapor-Emissions from Enclosed Fuel Tanks Draft

ATF studies fire phenomenon that a burned Baltimore County teenager

Upper Flammable Limit (UFL)

Flammability limit

An Experimental and Modeling Study of the Flammability of Fuel Tank Headspace Vapors from Ethanol/Gasoline Fuels

New Specification for for Flame Mitigation Devices on Portable Fuel Containers

Toxicological Profile for Automotive Gasoline

3.1 CHEMICAL IDENTITY

AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE CAS # 8006-61-9

ATF Laboratory Report

Ever wonder why dogs sniff each others' butts? Or how Adderall works? Or whether it's OK to pee in the pool? We've got you covered: Reactions a web series about the chemistry that surrounds you every day. Produced by the American Chemical Society.