Potassium reacts quickly with water producing a lilac-coloured flame ... There is sometimes a small explosion at the end of the reaction.

Potassium reacts quickly with water producing a lilac-coloured flame ... There is sometimes a small explosion at the end of the reaction.

Hydrogen peroxide decomposes on its own into water and oxygen gas. This process is sped up by a catalyst. In this reaction, the catalyst is potassium permanganate, and the bubbles are full of oxygen ...

The first 'reaction' that we tried for our hand warmer involved dissolving potassium carbonate (K 2 CO 3) in water. Potassium carbonate is one of the chemicals left behind in the ashes of burnt wood.