Chemistry & Science
Experiments

Torpedoes ( page 2 )

Like all fireworks, these are by no
means safe to manufacture and doing so is
illegal in the United States
unless you are licensed by the BATF

TORPEDO

Potassium Chlorate

50
%

Antimony Sulfide ( fine
)

50
%

The
Torpedo mixture itself must be mixed very carefully.
Once  the two chemicals are mixed together,
they are sensitive to friction, impact, and also static
electricity.
Grind some Potassium Chlorate ALONE in a mortar and pestle until it
is a fine powder. Measure out 10 grams of the Potassium Chlorate you just
ground, and add the 10 grams of Antimony Sulfide.
Never make more than 20 grams
total of this mixture at any time.
Mix the two with a fine brush - DO NOT GRIND THEM TOGETHER IN
ANY WAY.
Gently
brush the mixture through a fine screen so it will  be well
mixed.

Remember, any impact or friction could ignite or explode this
mixture.

The top
halves and bottom halves of 3/4" paper cup sets rarely fit into each
other.
The first thing to do is to stretch one half out so it will fit
over another.

Once you've
got one stretched so it will fit over another, apply a bead of white
glue
just under the lip of the stretched cup half. This is the
top.

Using a 1/8
teaspoon measure, put 2 level scoops of Torpedo mix into the
bottom
half ( the cup you didn't stretch ), and place 1 scoop of
aquarium gravel on top of it.
Use the smallest aquarium gravel you can
find, pieces no larger than 1/8".
You may have to sift out the larger
pieces through a coarse screen to get the desired size.
Then, place the
top half over the bottom and press the two together.

Flip the
Torpedo over and push it into the Torpedo Board (bottom end down).
This
will press all sides of the top & bottom together and make a perfect
seal.
Without it, the Torpedo mix would leak out, or wedge into the
seam making
the firework dangerous & unpredictable.
Once it is
fully dry (about an hour or two), push out the completed Torpedoes
from
the bottom of the board.

A completed Torpedo.

When the
Torpedo is thrown onto a hard surface, it will explode with a loud
report
and make a large ball of smoke. Test your Torpedoes for
sensitivity before using them.
Drop them onto concrete from various
heights and make sure they aren't too sensitive.
Torpedoes should only
explode when thrown hard, onto
concrete.