WHAT IS THE COMBUSTION SPOON AND WHAT IS IT FOR? - CHEMISTRY - 2025

The combustion ladle is an instrument used in laboratories, especially in chemistry, to carry out experiments with combustion reactions. These reactions are characterized by releasing heat, so additional safety methods must be used to avoid burns. Hence the importance of this laboratory instrument, since it allows to manipulate the substances to be heated.

The combustion spoon is a laboratory instrument that is made up of a long metal handle (it is usually about 25 to 50 centimeters long and has a diameter of 4 millimeters) and a small cup at the end of the handle (it measures about 2 centimeters in diameter and the substances to be heated are placed in it).

Combustion spoon

The handles of the combustion spoons are covered with heat-insulating materials, so that it is safe for the person conducting the experiment.

In addition, the metal that makes up the cup at the end is able to withstand high temperatures to prevent it from melting during the combustion process; it is usually stainless steel.

What are combustion spoons for in laboratories?

1- Combustion of substances

The main function of the combustion ladle is to allow various substances to be heated and combustion reactions to take place safely. That is why this instrument is made with heat resistant materials.

Combustion reactions, reactions between a compound and an oxidant, are exothermic reactions, which means that they release heat.

For this reason, it is necessary to take precautions (such as the use of the instruments already mentioned) when it comes to combustion processes, in order to avoid burns.

2- Instrument that protects security within laboratories

As previously mentioned, the combustion spoon is used in exothermic reactions. In this sense, it is intended to protect the person carrying out the experiment.

This is why it has a long handle positioned at a particular angle, so that the heated substance is away from the person's body.

3- Transport of substances

The fact that the handle is long allows substances to be handled more easily and deposited in other containers in which subsequent experiments will be carried out, without the need to use other instruments as intermediaries.

Furthermore, the thinness of said spoons makes it possible for them to be inserted into narrow containers, such as test tubes.

4- Check the presence of gases in containers

Combustion spoons are often used to check the presence of flammable gases inside a container, such as oxygen (O2) or carbon dioxide (CO2).

5- Does not alter heated substances

In addition to all the benefits already presented, the heat resistance of the ladle means that the heated substances do not suffer additional alterations to those generated by heat, which could occur if the material of the ladle melts.

For example, this makes the combustion spoon an indispensable element in any laboratory.

Usage examples

The combustion ladle can be used in hundreds of experiments. Here are some examples of using it:

1- When a metallic sodium capsule is heated and placed in a container with chlorine in the gaseous state

In this case, a combustion spoon must be used since the reaction is vigorous and exothermic (it releases heat), which could cause accidents to the skin of the person doing the experiment.

What happens when these two substances come into contact is that a reduction-oxidation reaction takes place, in which sodium burns in a yellow flame, creating sodium chloride or table salt as a product.

If a combustion ladle is not used, there is a risk of serious burns.

2- Demonstration of the exposure of polluting gases

In this experiment, pieces of apple skin are cut and placed in a glass jar. In a separate bottle, add distilled water and a universal indicator.

In a combustion ladle, powdered elemental sulfur is heated. By heating the sulfur in this instrument, you avoid inhaling harmful gases.

Quickly, put this spoon in the container with the apple skin and cover it to prevent the gases from escaping. In a short time, it is observed how the skin of the apples is discolored.

Subsequently, sulfur is reheated in the combustion ladle and, this time, it is introduced into the next container, which has the universal indicator, which changes color when it comes into contact with the gases emitted by sulfur (sulfur dioxide, which is highly toxic).

References

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