Incredibly, the reaction between iron and moist air that produces rust is a very ... we tried for our hand warmer involved dissolving potassium carbonate (K 2 CO 3) in water.

In this reaction, the catalyst is potassium permanganate. The reaction produces a lot of heat so the substance shooting out of the bottle is water vapor that is condensing in the cooler air. Oxygen ...

When the alkali metals are cut, they initially appear shiny grey but quickly become dull and white as they react with oxygen in the air ... compared to lithium. Potassium tarnishes so quickly ...