Chemistry Hand

Warmer
By Natalie Mansergh, Austin
Marshall, Matt Iacovelli, and Bronte
Hoefer

Product Timeline
Test different salts, observe reaction - endothermic or exothermic?
To what degree? What is the temperature change?
Note ingredients in other conventional hand warmers, speculate the
purpose of each ingredient and test.
Compose hand warmer concept - include ingredients with
extraneous purposes other than that of the reactants.
Create models, test, fiddle with ingredient ratios until ideal is
reached.
Test final product. Record radiant heat, time which it lasts.
Finish final product.

Hand warmer design

Components of our hand warmer and pricing

Material:

Amount/unit:

Cost/unit:

Cost/100 unit:

Water

10g

$0

$0

Calcium Chloride

8g

$0.05

$5

Vermiculite

4g

$0.01

$1

Iron powder

5g

$0.13

$13

Charcoal

5g

$0.36

$36

Plastic Bags

3/bag

$0.03

$3

Polyester

1/12 yard

$0.16

$16

Velcro

2 squares

$0.16

$16

Thread

1 yd/bag

$0.02

$2

$0.92

$92

Total

The chemistry of our hand warmer

Chemical formula for the dissolution of calcium chloride in water:
CaCl2 (s) + H2O(l)--> Ca(+2) (aq) + 2Cl(-) + H2O(l)

The reaction between water and calcium chloride is exothermic. This means:
- The reaction releases heat, which we can contain in our hand warmer
- It also needs insulation to keep the heat contained, and a conductor to keep
the heat moving through the hand warmer to the persons hand

The chemistry of our hand warmer

Activated charcoal: is thermally conductive, spreading heat throughout the
product.
Vermiculite: helps insulate the hand warmer by containing some of the heat
because of the air pockets located in the vermiculite
Iron powder: conducts the heat to keep the hand warmer warm for a long period of
time
When the salt bonds break in the reaction, energy in the form of heat is released
as a product.

Final Product

Safe Handling

Slightly toxic by consumption

Keep away from fire for risk of combustion
If bag pops, dispose of hand warmer
To prevent these risks from happening, keep away from smaller children

The benefits of our hand warmer

-

Use of mostly natural substances

It lasts 15-20 minutes with a 24 degree temperature change
It is portable and has been designed to fit the average hand size
Sold for $2 (includes bag and refill), make $1.08 profit
Refills sold for $1, each making a profit of $0.42
Outer bag is reusable