{"id":53536,"date":"2025-10-01T04:43:45","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T19:43:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phys-edu.net\/wp\/?p=53536"},"modified":"2025-10-01T04:43:45","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T19:43:45","slug":"just-mix-it-and-reach-80c-discover-the-heat-of-rust-with-a-diy-hand-warmer-learn-the-science-of-exothermic-reactions-by-making-your-own","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phys-edu.net\/wp\/?p=53536&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Just Mix It and Reach 80\u00b0C!? Discover the Heat of Rust with a DIY Hand Warmer! Learn the Science of Exothermic Reactions by Making Your Own"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’m Ken Kuwako, a Science Trainer. Every Day is an Experiment.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

On a cold winter day, the gentle warmth of a heat pack tucked into your pocket feels like a gift from the heavens, doesn’t it? But have you ever stopped to imagine what is actually happening inside that small pouch?<\/p>\n

That little bag is, in fact, a “chemical factory in your pocket.” This time, we’re going to unlock the secrets of this factory with a hands-on experiment: making your own disposable heat pack to truly feel the heat of chemistry.<\/p>\n

\u3010This article is also available on the radio<\/a>\u3011<\/p>\n

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When I conduct this experiment in class, the students’ eyes light up. The classroom is filled with exclamations like, “It’s really getting warm!” and “Look, there’s steam coming off it!” The moment an invisible chemical reaction transforms into tangible “heat” that you can touch is the ultimate learning experience that a textbook alone can’t provide.<\/p>\n

The DIY Heat Pack Challenge: Materials and Procedure<\/h3>\n

Our goal is to understand the mechanism of a disposable heat pack and experience the exothermic reaction\u2014how a chemical process called oxidation generates heat. Let’s get started with the preparation!<\/p>\n

\u25a0 Materials Needed (Per group)<\/b><\/p>\n