Near to Inferno

CSG will certainly have a pleasant memory of our class. Today, she gave us her permission to conduct experiments. We had to investigate the reactivity of diffferent metals with carbon, then from the results we were required to construct an electrochemical series that should be spot-on if the experiments were not bungled. Therefore, we took different chemicals to conduct the experiments.

The chemicals were carbon, aluminum oxide, copper oxide, zinc oxide and magnesium oxide.

Then, because time was short - okay, we should partly be blamed for this unforeseen incident - everybody tried to rush off by throwing all heated chemicals into the garbage bin after the experiments. Okay, it's very imprudent of us to throw the chemicals into the garbage bin while they were piping hot, especially since we learn chemistry and we should realise the consequences of reacting two hot metals together in unprotected condition and around combustible materials.

And worse still, different metallic oxide and carbon were thrown into the garbage bin. Out of the blue it just caught fire and the garbage bin lit up with a bright flame. The flame was small, but growing bigger with time and spreading rather rapidly. CSG was caught off guard and was rather surprised by the incident, and so were we. But, luckily, Jacky who composed himself at the moment immediately took one of the two beers (umm....I don't know the specific name) filled with sands and tossed them into the garbage bin, temporarily cutting off oxygen supply and extinguishing the fire.

But, alas, the fire was only temporarily extinguished and it was actually caused by chemical reactions. But since the other class's students were trickling in, we had to figure out a way to solve the problem without disturbing them. Even though completely sealed, the fire remained obdurate and refused to die off. The plastic bag that sealed it began to break by the extreme heat.

For about 10 minutes we were trying to figure out ways to solve the problem. Then, the second batch of flame began to arise, but we managed to control it without any fire really burning. Then, a brilliant idea by TKC - he suggested us to spread all the garbage on the floor until whatever that was burning settled down and cooled, only then no chemicals could possibly react.

And did we so. There were few stubborn flame which required us to stomp on them a few times. One thing we found that was quite shocking was two correction tape that caught fire and someone did feel glad no liquid paper was thrown into the bin, or else explosion might go off.

Anyway, the fire was successfully ceased to burn after 30 minutes. CSG certainly felt relieved because she thanked us profusely - not the usual her.