JCE Software Chemistry Comes Alive!
Constructing a Baster Ball Cannon

A small clip from "ICE devices" shows combustion of methanol/ethanol.

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3.5 MB, 55 seconds

File: MOVIES/MISC/BASTER.MOV

Voiceover
To strike the lighter, quickly turn the knob as if you were snapping your fingers. You should see a spark. You should wear goggles to use this device. Pour a milliliter of methanal, ethanal, or another fuel into the bulb. Be careful not to wet the flint. Allow the fuel to vaporize for a few minutes. Push a ping-pong ball snugly into the mouth of the filler bulb. Watch your aim and strike the lighter.

Discussion
This is from the videotape "ICE Devices".


Citations:  
  ICE DevICEs: How to construct Inexpensive Classroom and Lab Tools Institute for Chemical Education University of Wisconsin - Madison
  ICE DevICEs Video (VHS) Institute for Chemical Education University of Wisconsin - Madison
Design, text, demonstration and voice:  
  Kelly Houston Jetzer University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
Video production and editing:  
  Jerrold J. Jacobsen University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
  Greg Minix University of Wisconsin - Madison, College of Engineering, Madison, WI 53706