Required: 2 beakers (400 ml), measuring cylinder, asbestos wire, calcium acetate, ethanol, dil. sodiumhydroxide solution, POP

Preparation:

Beaker A:
Weigh ca. 12 [g] of calcium acetate and dissolve it in 40 [ml] of aqua dest.
Add three drops of POP and then dropwise sodiumhydroxide solution (ca. 1 – 5 drops) so that the solution is weakly basic.

Beaker B:
Give 300 [ml] of ethanol into the beaker and add 20 drops of POP.

Procedure:

The content of beaker B is added to beaker A.
A gel is formed and put on the asbestos wire. Switch off the light and ignite the gel.