Ever heard of 'hot ice'? It sounds like an oxymoron, but it's a real (and seriously cool) chemical reaction you can demonstrate at home! This 'hot ice' isn't frozen water, but sodium acetate trihydrate, which when supersaturated in water and then triggered, rapidly crystallizes. This crystallization process releases heat, hence the 'hot' part.
Think of it like this: you carefully dissolve more sodium acetate than water can usually hold. It's a delicate balance. Then, introduce a 'seed' – a tiny crystal of sodium acetate. This acts as a trigger, causing the dissolved sodium acetate to quickly snap into crystal form, creating a growing tower of what looks like ice.
Why is this a fun experiment? It visually demonstrates supersaturation and crystallization. Plus, it's reusable! Simply redissolve the crystallized sodium acetate in water with some heat, cool it carefully, and you're ready for another instant ice tower. Search for easy-to-follow 'hot ice' experiment tutorials online to get started!
