COMO FAZER COMBUSTÍVEL DE FOGUETE - PROPELENTE DE NITRATO DE POTÁSSIO E AÇÚCAR

Summary

In this video series, the creator guides viewers through building a rocket, focusing on making the rocket's crucial propellant. The process involves purifying potassium nitrate, blending it with sugar, and creating a fuel mixture to power the rocket engine. The steps include crystallization, heating, and filtering, followed by testing the purified nitrate's burning speed. The creator emphasizes safety and proper storage of materials. The video concludes with a preview of the final part of the series, where viewers will learn to design a rocket using computer software and simulate its flight.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video series focuses on building a rocket, starting with the engine, ignition system, and propellant.
• 😀 The propellant is one of the most critical components of the rocket and will be the focus of this video.
• 😀 The process requires two main ingredients: potassium nitrate (a fertilizer) and sugar.
• 😀 Purification of potassium nitrate is necessary for better efficiency, using a crystallization method to separate impurities.
• 😀 Around 60% of the nitrate will be lost during purification, meaning only 30 grams of purified nitrate will remain from 100 grams.
• 😀 Heating the potassium nitrate solution is essential for it to dissolve completely in water, which should be done at low heat.
• 😀 Filtering the hot mixture through a coffee filter is required before allowing the solution to cool, which encourages crystal growth.
• 😀 Once the crystals stop growing, the excess yellowish liquid should be discarded, and the nitrate should be dried.
• 😀 A comparison of the burning speed between purified and unpurified nitrate helps assess the purification efficiency.
• 😀 For making the propellant, a mixture of 65% potassium nitrate and 35% sugar is used, and the ingredients are carefully heated until the mixture becomes liquid.
• 😀 After preparing the propellant, the engine can be filled, and the proper ignition procedure is covered in earlier videos of the series.
• 😀 The series will continue with a video about building the rocket from scratch using computer software and conducting flight simulations.

Q & A

What is the most important part of the rocket according to the video?

The most important part of the rocket discussed in the video is the propellant.

Where can potassium nitrate be found for making the propellant?

Potassium nitrate can be found in fertilizer houses, as it is a common fertilizer.

Why is purifying potassium nitrate important in making the propellant?

Purifying potassium nitrate is important because it removes impurities, improving the propellant's efficiency.

How is potassium nitrate purified in the video?

Potassium nitrate is purified by dissolving it in water and using a crystallization method to grow potassium nitrate crystals, which separate from impurities.

What is the approximate yield of purified potassium nitrate from 100 grams?

From 100 grams of potassium nitrate, about 30 grams of purified nitrate is obtained, as 60% of it is lost during the purification process.

What is the purpose of filtering the mixture while it is still hot?

Filtering the mixture while it is still hot helps remove impurities before the mixture cools down and forms nitrate crystals.

What should be done after the nitrate crystals have stopped growing?

Once the nitrate crystals stop growing, the yellowish liquid remaining should be discarded, and the crystals should be dried either freely or in an oven.

What is the recommended storage condition for purified nitrate?

Purified nitrate should be stored in a place away from humidity to prevent degradation and maintain safety.

What is the ideal ratio of nitrate to sugar in the propellant mix?

The ideal ratio for the propellant is 65% nitrate and 35% sugar.

What precautions should be taken when making the propellant at home?

Precautions include not using household blenders (especially a mother's blender), ensuring the substance is mixed with low heat, and avoiding ignition risks since the mixture is flammable.