What is the name for a reaction with a solid product rising from its container?

Question

The reaction between sugar and sulfuric acid is well known to produce a solid column of rising carbon which may leave its container. A very similar rising column may also be produced from high temperature pyrolysis of certain organic substrates.

Is there a name exclusive to the type of reaction that produces a rising column?

One of my buddies poured himself a beer. Beer going into the glass caused a frothing reaction. Has anyone heard of solid frothing? — Agriculturist, Mar 05 '16 at 01:54

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 18 '16 at 16:46

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In pyrotechnic chemistry, they might call it a pharoh's snake (or serpent) reaction. To a degree, (or rather 330 °C) pyrolysis of the sugar is occurring (starting at 170 °C).

In cooking, they would call it caramelization, although the term is also applicable in general chemistry. Less specifically, you can call it a "browning reaction"... note- caramelization (non-enzymatic) should not be confused with a Maillard reaction (enzymatic). More specifically, you could call it dehydration or decomposition of sugar with sulfuric acid. Somewhere in-between you might find the term carbonization.

You may also find the terms carbon soufflé and carbon foam interesting.

answered Aug 18 '16 at 16:46

Ben Welborn

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Ok, that is the detailed Dad answer. Mom's more to point answer is - No. There is no specific name for such a reaction. – MaxW Aug 18 '16 at 20:46
@MaxW Ha, you got me! – Ben Welborn Aug 18 '16 at 22:36
Plus there are also a number of names referring to the fact that it is something cylindric and it is rising. – Jan Aug 18 '16 at 23:08
While doing biochar research, sometimes this reaction happens instead of char formation. I was hoping for something more scientific sounding than a d*** mess, which is what I was calling it. This answer works. – Agriculturist Aug 19 '16 at 13:45

ringo · Answer 2 · 2016-03-02T21:08:04.943

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Concentrated sulfuric acid dehydrates almost any hydroxyl containing organic molecule. This is the specific type of reaction that is occurring.

The reason the carbon-column forms is the intense heat that is released from the reaction. The water vaporizes and rises, carrying the carbon with it.

edited Mar 02 '16 at 21:08

answered Mar 02 '16 at 20:12

ringo

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Dehydration does not always form a rising column (example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhE6CM6Qbws.) Certain pyrolytic reactions do form a rising column. I am looking for a name describing a reaction which produces this phenomena. – Agriculturist Mar 02 '16 at 22:12
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That is a completely different type of dehydration. The dehydration reaction that I was talking about specifically involves the removal of water from an organic compound, not the driving off of water from a hydrated salt. – ringo Mar 02 '16 at 22:16
Is there a name for this specific form of dehydration? – Agriculturist Mar 02 '16 at 22:22
I believe it would be called acid catalyzed dehydration. – ringo Mar 02 '16 at 22:24
I changed the language in the question for clarity. – Agriculturist Mar 02 '16 at 22:48
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How about "Charring"? – curious_cat Mar 03 '16 at 05:44

What is the name for a reaction with a solid product rising from its container?

2 Answers2