Hand Warmer

By Peter, Kyle, Jason, and Gabby

The Hand Warmer Challenge

Objective - to design and create a hand warmer using
chemistry to make an effective, safe, environmentally friendly,
and inexpensive hand warmer, so it can be sold in the
San Marin Student Store.

The Process of creating Our Hand Warmer

The First step was to identify the type of reaction we would use in order to heat
our hand warmer. An exothermic reaction creates heat, and an endothermic
reaction cools. From this we knew we would want an Exothermic reaction in order
to heat the hand warmer.
During our test of different compounds. We found that when mixed with water,
lithium chloride expels the most heat, compared to the other compounds.

Materials

Magnesiu Calcium
m Sulfate Chloride(
Anahydrat CaCl2)
e(MgSO4)

Sodium
Carbonate
(NaCO3)

Mass(g)

5.04
g

5g

5.
2
g

4.9
3g

5.1
3g

5.8
g

Initial
Water
Temp.
(C)

19.8
C

18.
4
C

20
.2
C

20.
8C

20.
3C

20.
5C

Final
Water
Material
Temp.
s
(C)

23.6 20. 27
C
6 C
Magn Ammon
C
esium ium
Chlori Nitrate(
NH4NO
Temperat de(Mg
3.8 2.2
6. 3
Cl
)
)
2
ure
C
c. 8
Change(
C
Mass(g)
5. 5. 4. 5.0
C)
0 2 49 1g
Average 4 . 4 .g 1.
g497(g 49 34
Temp.
Change
C/g 7( (
Initial
1 ) 1 C/
19 19.
Per
C/
Water
9.
9.
.9
7
Gram(C/
g) g)
Temp.
5
8
C
C
g)
(C)
C C

27. 25. 28.

6C 1C 8C
Stronti Lithium
um
Chlorid
Chlori e(LiCl)
de(Sr 4.8 8.8
6.8
Cl
C2)
C
C
5. 5. 5.
1 14 03
3 g 1.2g
1.3
g
4(
4(
C/g) C/g)
1 20 19
9. C .8
8
C

5.
19
g
1.2
4(
C/g)
19
.6
C

The Chemistry Behind Our Hand Warmers

2 LiCl(s) + 2 H2O(l) -> 2 Li+(aq) +2Cl- (aq)
This reaction is exothermic reaction because the reaction releases heat and
energy.In this reaction Lithium chloride is reacting with the Water to create the
Exothermic reaction, the Sodium Polyacrylate helps to absorb heat.
In the reaction ionic compounds dissolve in water. Since water is a polar
molecule, the H20 molecules separates the ions into the liquid. The positive ends
of the H20 molecules face the anions(Chloride), and the negative ends of the H20
molecules face the cations(Lithium).

Our Design
Is 1.5x3.5 inches
Made of 3 different parts
A 1x1 inch bag full of water beads
A 1.25x3.25 plastic bag that encases the lithium chloride
the bag of water beads
A 1.5x3.5 inch cotton bag that encases the plastic bag

and

Our Data
Ideal Hand Warmer
Increases in temperature by 20O C as quickly as possible
Has a volume of about 50mL
Data Table
Evaluated different salts
To see how the temperature changes
How it holds heat
How is cools down

Our Data - First Trial

Paper Towel with Water in a Plastic Bag with Lithium Chloride(LiCl)
Mass Initial Final Time( Effici
(g)
Temp Temp Minut ency
.(C) (C)
es)
(1-5)
2g

26.5
C

50.9 1min.
C
52
sec.

2g

25.2
C

49.6 1min.
c
48
sec.

Our Data - Second Trial

Water Beads with Lithium Chloride (LiCl) in a Plastic Bag
Mass( Initial Final Time(
g)
Tem Tem Minut
p.
p(C) es)
(C)

Efficie
ncy
(1-5)

Water
Beads

1g

26.2
C

48C

1min.
53
sec.

20

5g

23.8 58.3
C
C

5min.
15
sec.

10

5g

23.4 57.1
C
C

5min.
28
sec,

15

Our Data - Third Trial

Water Beads With Felt and Lithium Chloride (LiCl)
Ma
ss(
g)

Initia
l
Tem
p.
(C)

Final
Time(
Temp(C Minut
)
es)

Efficie
ncy
(1-5)

Wate
r
Bead
s

5g

23.5
C

In:63.4
C- Out:
45.2C

8
min.
22
sec.

15

5g

24.2
C

In:62.8
C- Out:
47.6C

8
min.
33
sec.

15

Our Data - Fourth Trial

Water Beads and Lithium Chloride(LiCl) in a bag, inside a bag of water.
Ma Initial Final
ss( Temp Temp(C
g) .(C) )

Time(
Minut
es)

Effici
ency
(1-5)

Wate
r
Bead
s

2g

23.7
C

33.2C

4min.
23
sec.

2g

24.3
C

35.6C

4min.
27
sec.

Our Data - Fifth Trial

Water Bead Bag in a Bag of Lithium Chloride, with Cloth Around it.
Ma Initia
ss( l
g) Tem
p.
(C)

Final
Time(
Temp(C) Minut
es)

Effici
ency
(1-5)

Wate
r
Bead
s

5g

23.2
C

In:62.3C
- Out:
45.6C

8 min.
53
sec.

5g

23.6
C

In:60.3C
Out:44.7
C

9 min.
22
sec.

Cost
The total cost for 100 hand warmers will be roughly $108.00, including
packaging.
For 100 hand warmers, the cost will be:
Lithium chloride: $94.00.
Ziploc Plastic Bags: $3.00
Salt and Water Beads: $1.00
Felt Casing: $10.00

Our idea is to charge $1.50 for one and $2.50 for two.
Our profit out of this will be very small, about $0.17 per handwarmer. That
is alright though, for a large profit is not our goal.

Safety Concerns
Lithium Chloride is moderately toxic by ingestion or inhalation
Lithium Chloride causes irritation to the eyes and skin
Flush with fresh water for at least 15 minutes
If inhaled remove to fresh air immediately
If ingested then rinse mouth with water then drink a lot of water for dilution
If lithium chloride is heated to decomposition it may emit chlorine.

Benefits to Our Design

Relatively cheap to manufacture at $1.08 per hand warmer
Spill-proof
Very effective and easy to start
Lasts for decent amount of time
Very smooth feeling to the hands

Thank You
&
Stay Warm!