Expert: Sherman D. Date: 1/8/2004 Subject: Onion Volcano
Question I want to duplicate what I have seen in Japanese restaurants where the chefs slice an onion and then set aflame an onion volcano. What liquids do the chefs use for this, and arew there any tips you can pass on? I will be using an outdoor barbeque so there is no risk I will be setting the house on fire.
Thanks in advance for your valued help.
Answer In short, the answer is vegetable oil and ethyl alcohol (burner fuel), for more info, read below.
The Onion Volcano
by Lori and Danny Gilmore, Steelville, MO
The concentric rings resulting from a sliced onion can be made into a model volcano for introducing topics on volcanology.
Materials: One large white onion, knife (electric knives make nice, even cuts), flat electric skillet, vegetable oil, ethyl alcohol (burner fuel), fireplace matches, goggles, and oven mits.
Safety Note: The liquids may not stay in the cone so be careful when lighting the vapors.
Procedure:
1. Preheat electric skillet. Put on the goggles.
2. Cut the onion in half. From one of the halves, cut a slice of onion approximately 1 to 1.5 cm thick.
3. Separate the rings.
4. Place the largest onion ring on the skillet. Stack the next largest ring on top of that and continue stacking until a cone with a hole in the top is made. The resulting structure should resemble a volcano.
5. Pour approximately 20 mL of vegetable oil into the volcano hole.
6. Pour approximately 10 mL of ethyl alcohol into the volcano hole.
7. Light a fireplace match and drop it into the volcano hole.
8. Turn off the room lights, and see flames shoot out of the top simulating an active volcano.
Extension: If you want orange flames, add NaCl to the alcohol or for red flames add LiCl to the alcohol.
Found at www.nmlsta.org/volcanology.htm or
www.successlink.org/great/g716.html
