Watch the video of Sarah’s science experiment at STEM Academy Nimitz! Get ready to witness something amazing as these soft and shiny metals react dramatically with water. Tune in to GMSA@9 on Wednesdays to watch Meteorologist Sarah Spivey perform demonstrations and explain the science behind it in partnership with the San Antonio Zoo (Copyright KSAT 2023 – All rights reserved).
Want to try the experiment yourself? Here’s what you’ll need: a small piece of potassium (available on Amazon), a paper towel, and a beaker with water. Remember, this experiment requires eye and hand protection.
Follow these simple steps to conduct the experiment: put on your eye and hand protection, then take a piece of potassium and dry it on a paper towel. Place the potassium in a bowl of water and step back. Finally, watch as the potassium explodes in the bowl of water.
The science behind this is that when potassium reacts with water (H2O), it forms potassium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. This reaction is exothermic, meaning it generates a lot of heat. This is why some of the potassium may catch fire during the experiment.
If you’re interested in having Sarah and David visit your school to conduct a live science experiment on KSAT, simply fill out the form provided. “Winners” will be selected at random (Copyright 2024 by KSAT – All rights reserved).