When touched to a flame, flash paper can burn instantly with no smoke or ash.Special effects are created using flash paper and magicians use it too.If you want to make your own flash paper, it is possible to do at home.As creating flash paper requires the mixing of strong acids, you should take precautions and have experience working with chemicals in a laboratory setting.If you feel comfortable making your own flash paper, you will get professional grade material that you can use to impress your family and friends!
Step 1: Your eyes and skin should be protected.
It is important to wear protective gear when working with acids.You should wear long sleeves that cover your arms as well as goggles, gloves, and apron.You should be able to work under the hood.
Step 2: Your work-station should be set up.
Place your supplies next to the hood in aventilated laboratory.Baking soda can be put in a bowl if there is an acid spill.It is possible to make spills less harmful and dangerous by using sodium bicarbonate.Before you start working, make sure the hood works.Baking soda should be poured over the acid spill.The neutralization is taking place as C02 is released.The spill should be tested with pH paper.It is safe to wash the spill down the sink once it is between 6 and 9.
Step 3: The paper should be cut into squares.
A cotton T-shirt, toilet paper, and tissue paper can be used to make flash paper.Make sure that the paper you use is 100% cotton.Cut out the same number of sheets as you would a business card.
Step 4: In a beaker, mix concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid.
Under the hood, pour concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid into a 1 liter pitcher with a 5:1 ratio.Make sure you have enough liquid to submerge the paper.The beakers and acid are inside the hood.All your work should be done at least 6 inches (15.2 cm) from the hood opening.
Step 5: Rub the acids together.
Hold the pitcher and lightly swirl it with your hand to mix the acids together.If you shake the acid or swirl it, it can cause it to splash.
Step 6: Put the paper in the container.
Drop one of your strips of paper into the pitcher.If you want to poke your paper in the water, use a glass stirring rod.If you keep adding and submerging the sheets with the glass rod, you will be able to add all your paper.
Step 7: Wait for 15-20 minutes
Wait 15-20 minutes for the paper to fully absorb the acid after you have added your last sheet.Tissue paper and toilet paper will be off-white by the end of the wait.
Step 8: Water can be poured into a beaker.
While you wait for the paper to soak, fill a beaker or pitcher halfway up with water.The beaker needs to be wide enough to fit the papers.Next to the pitcher of acid, place the beaker of water.
Step 9: Take the paper to the water bath.
Pull up one of the pieces of paper with a pair of tongs.The paper needs to be above the pitcher of acid to stop dripping.Drop the paper into the beaker of water when it stops dripping.Make sure that the strips of paper stop dripping before you transfer them.You are done with the acids.Baking soda can be poured into the beaker of acid to neutralize it.After turning on the water, pour the acid down the drain.Run the water for a while, then turn it off.
Step 10: The paper needs to be soaked for about five minutes.
The pieces of paper should be left in the water bath for about five minutes.The paper should turn from brown to off-white if you are using it.
Step 11: Take the water and put it in the beaker.
Put the water beaker in the sink.It is no longer necessary to work under the hood as you have finished working with acids.The paper should not escape from the beaker if the water is poured out.Pour the same amount of water back into the beaker after you empty out the water.You are washing the paper to get rid of acid.
Step 12: The process of washing should be repeated several times.
After draining the water, fill the beaker with it again.This will flush the paper.
Step 13: The paper needs to be placed on a paper towel.
Take the papers out of the water bath one by one with a pair of tongs, pausing over the beaker until they finish dripping.The papers should be placed on a folded sheet of paper towel.The paper should be left on the sheet of paper towel for at least 8 hours.They should not overlap so that they can dry quicker.
Step 14: The paper should be placed in sodium bicarbonate.
After the paper has dried, fill a beaker with a 1 liter solution of sodium bicarbonate.The paper should be placed in the same way as you did with the water bath.If you notice something bubbling, take the beaker to the sink and pour out the sodium bicarbonate.Add water and then empty it a few times.Wait for the paper to completely dry, either overnight or for 8 hours.
Step 15: The paper should be put in the fuel.
Add the papers as you did for the sodium bicarbonate by filling the pitcher with enough alcohol to submerge them.Put them on a fresh folded sheet of paper towel and let them soak for 15-20 minutes, then take them out and wait for them to stop dripping.
Step 16: The paper should be brought to the neutral location.
You want to be in a safe place when you light the paper on fire.A neutral environment like on the pavement of your driveway could be what this is.The papers that you dried, matches, and a flame-proof container should be brought with you.
Step 17: Take a piece of flash paper and put it in a container.
The trick won't work if the flash paper is still partially wet.To hold up the piece of flash paper over the flame-proof container, use a pair of heatproof tongs.
Step 18: Light the paper on fire.
Hold the match up to the flash paper.You will see that the paper catches fire and quickly burns down.When you finish playing with your flash paper, put any additional pieces of paper in a safe location like a drawer or envelope, as they are extremely dangerous.