how dangerous can a thermite explosion be>?

Question

even just in small amounts. let say 30g to 50g.

Answer 1

30g of thermite are enough to create a hole in 2 cm of steel plate.
It's very very dangerous (reaching 2500°C) once started the reaction cannot be stopped. Thermite contains its own supply of oxygen and does not require any external source of air. Consequently, it cannot be smothered and may ignite in any environment, given sufficient initial heat. It will burn well while wet and cannot be extinguished with water. Small amounts of water will boil before reaching the reaction. If thermite is ignited underwater, the molten iron produced will extract oxygen from water and generate hydrogen gas in a single-replacement reaction. This gas may, in turn, burn by combining with oxygen in the air.
Thermite usage is hazardous due to the extremely high temperatures produced and the fact that it is almost impossible to smother once initiated. Appropriate precautions must be taken before igniting thermite. The thermite reaction releases dangerous ultra-violet (UV) light requiring that the reaction not be viewed directly, or that special eye protection (for example, a welder's mask) be worn. Thermite should not be used near flammable materials because small streams of molten iron released in the reaction can travel considerable distances and may melt through metal containers, igniting their contents
Mixing water with thermite or pouring water onto burning thermite is dangerous because it can cause a phreatomagmatic explosion, spraying hot fragments in all directions.

Answer 2

Thermite Explosion

Answer 3

Thermite needs a lot of heat to get it started. Once started it usually will not stop until the reactants are exausted. First, you will need a powerful and hot explosion to set it off, which means the reactants are going to fly apart with high velocity. Second, the reaction is very hot.

If you were to set it off it would be very dangerous and could kill or seriously injure anyone near it. *If* you wanted to "play" with it the safest thing to do would be to have it in a container over a dirt pit, away from anything flamable, and set it off with a magnesium strip or some other hot fuse. I would not be close to it when it goes off either.

Answer 4

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RE:
how dangerous can a thermite explosion be>?
even just in small amounts. let say 30g to 50g.

Answer 5

The question as asked cannot be answered. The words "How dangerous" actually means little to nothing.

The free energy liberated is substantial. If you cannot control it via the way you use and contain it, it is very dangerous.

Consider auto gasoline. Properly used, it can be very safe. However, careless use causes numerous problems.

Finally, given your obvious lack of technical depth you should stay out of the chemistry realm until you are either properly trained OR you have supervision by trained people.

Answer 6

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Initial explosion? It just starts flaming for me! How are you initiating the reaction? The easiest way I have found is to use a small amount of KMnO4 and pour glycerin on that.