Unicorn Hot Ice Experiment

This Unicorn Hot Ice Experiment is to imitate the scene in the famous Disney movies 'FROZEN' that when Elsa steps on the ground, the ice grows from Elsa's feet. We have a unicorn, a mermaid and an angel can do the Elsa magic.

Ages: 5+                 Est. Time: < 4 hours

 Safety 

1. Adult supervision.
2. Be careful, hot.
3. Wear gloves and goggles.
4. It will be better if adult conducts the experiment.

 Materials List 

• Anhydrous sodium acetate
• Water
• Petri dish (other transparent containers are ok, but must be clean)
• Glass rods
• Heater
• Pot
• Plastic wrap
• Insulated gloves
• Toy

 Instruction 

Step 1/3 – Pour 150ml water into 150g anhydrous sodium acetate. Use a water bath to heat them with a temperature above 80 ° C. Stir until it is completely dissolved. (be careful, wear heat-insulated gloves).

Step 2/3 – Stop heating, pour the solution into the petri dish, let it cool down, keep it far from dust by placing a plastic wrap on the petri dish and wait until the temperature of the solution is almost the same as room temperature.

Step 3/3 – Cling a small amount of anhydrous sodium acetate powder to the button of the unicorn toy and put the unicorn into the solution. And, see what will happen.

 Troubleshooting 

What should I do if the anhydrous sodium acetate powder is not completely dissolved?

— It is mostly because the temperature is too low. The temperature of the solution inside the cup needs higher than 80 °C.

What if there is no anhydrous sodium acetate?
— Baking soda and vinegar can create producing anhydrous sodium acetate but it needs to evaporate water out of it by cooking.

Why does the solution solidify immediately after cooling?
— The solution is contaminated. The container and tools that contact with the solution must be clean enough. Too much dust in the air and vibrations can cause it solidified too.

 Scientific description 

The principle behind this experiment is Supersaturation which is a solution that contains more of the dissolved material than what could be dissolved by the solvent under normal circumstances. Supersaturation is an unstable state. Any little vibration, dust, and the nucleus will make the Supersaturation turn into solid immediately. When the pressure is constant, the solubility of anhydrous sodium acetate in this experiment increases with the increase of temperature. When the temperature cools down, it is the supersaturation solution. When the anhydrous sodium acetate powder which acts as a crystal nucleus, touches the sodium acetate supersaturated solution, it crystallizes immediately. The crystallization releases heat so that is why we call it ‘HOT ICE’. It is not the usual ice we have in the refrigerator.

 Extensions 

You can combine this HOT ICE with the experiment, Density Column. And, we will upload the experiment Hot Ice Combing With Density Column later on.