3 replies to this topic

[Dan]

i was wondering about zinc sulfur rockets. i was wondering where is the oxidizer. i have searched the forums but couldn't find my answer. does sulfer have some sort of hidden oxidizing properties or something?
can someone please explain to me about exactly how they work?
thx
Dan

[Stuart]

Oxidation and Reduction don't have much to do with oxygen being donated or received but in actual fact are defined by electron transfer. Oxidation is loss of electrons. Reduction is gain in electrons. This is sometime abbreviated OIL RIG. Oxygen is quite often the oxidising agent in comps though as it wants to gain 2 electrons to form a stable shell. In a Zinc Sulphur rocket, you are right, the oxidiser is Sulphur.

Zn + S -->ZnS

As is, Zinc wants rid of two electrons while Sulphur would like to gain 2. Therefore, Zinc is quite happy to give up its electrons and Sulphur is happy receiving them. When the reaction is complete, you end up with the compound Zinc Sulphide. This is made up of 2+ Zinc ions (lost 2 electrons) and 2- Sulphur ions (gained 2 electrons).

Hope this answers you question

Stuart

Edited by Stuart, 04 August 2004 - 09:28 PM.

[BigG]

Very good Stuart. I guess Dan was intrigue by one of my last posts about Zinc/Sulphur. A+ for the answer

[Dan]

thx Stuart. i got it now.

and BigG it was one of ur posts that i saw them on and was curious about them.