HAND WARMER

1. First, we brainstormed all the materials that create heat when they react with each
other. We wondered how different handwarmers differ when different materials are
used. We also want to know how store bought hand warmers work
2. Our hand warmer will be a heat sealed plastic bag, surrounded on the outside with
felt. The felt is used for comfort, and to help trap the heat inside the hand warmer.
Inside the bag we have 15 beads and 5 grams of lithium chloride. We found that the
best ratio of beads to grams of lithium chloride was 3 beads per 1 gram of lithium
chloride. Our prototype can be seen below:

Our reaction is an exothermic reaction, because the reaction releases heat and
energy. In our reaction Lithium Chloride (LiCl) solid reacts with Water(H2O) liquid to
form Lithium Hydroxide(LiOH) liquid Hydrochloric Acid(HCl) liquid.
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, H 20 molecules separate the
ions into the liquid. The positive ends of the H 20 molecules face the negative ions.
5. The total cost for 100 hand warmers will be roughly $108.00, including packaging.
For 100 hand warmers, the lithium chloride will cost $94.00. This takes up around 85%
of the cost. The other costs include $3.00 for the Ziploc bag material, $10.00 for the felt
fabric, and $1.00 for the combination of the water beads and the tiny salt bags. Our idea

is to charge $1.50 for one and $2.50 for two. Our profit out of this will be very small,
about $0.34 per two handwarmers. That is alright though, for profit is not our goal.
4. Data: The ideal hand warmer increases in temperature by 20C as quickly as
possible and has a volume of about 50mL. In these seven data tables, we evaluated
different salts to see how the temperature changed, held heat, and cooled down, in
order to determine which substances, and in what amounts, to use in order to make an
ideal handwarmer.
Materials

Magnesium Sulfate
Anahydrate(MgSO4)

Mass(g)

Calcium Chloride(CaCl2)
5 grams

5.04 grams

5.2 grams

4.93 grams

Initial Water Temp.(C)

19.8C

18.4C

20.2C

20.8C

Final Water Temp.(C)

23.6C

20.6C

27C

27.6C

Temperature Change(C)

3.8C

2.2c.

6.8C

6.8C

.497(C/g)

.497(C/g)

1.34(C/g)

1.34(C/g)

Average Temp. Change Per

Gram(C/g)

Materials

Sodium Carbonate(NaCO3)

Strontium Chloride(SrCl2)

Mass(g)
5.13 grams

5.8 grams

5.13 grams

5.14 grams

Initial Water Temp.(C)

20.3C

20.5C

19.8C

20C

Final Water Temp.(C)

25.1C

28.8C

18.8C

18.4C

Temperature Change(C)

4.8C

8.8C

-1C

-1.6C

1.24(C/g)

1.24(C/g)

-0.25(C/g)

-0.25(C/g)

Average Temp. Change Per

Gram(C/g)

Materials

Mass(g) of Magnesium
Chloride(MgCl2)

Mass(g) of Ammonium
Nitrate(NH4NO3)

Mass(g)
5.04 grams

5.24 grams

4.49 grams

5.01 grams

Initial Water Temp.(C)

19.5C

19.8C

19.9C

19.7C

Final Water Temp.(C)

20.4C

20.9C

13.9C

14C

Temperature Change(C)

0.9C

0.9C

-6C

-5.7C

0.17(C/g)

0.17(C/g)

-1.176(C/g)

-1.176(C/g)

Average Temp. Change Per

Gram(C/g)
Mass(g) of Lithium
Chloride(LiCl)

5.03 grams

5.19 grams

Initial Water Temp.(C)

19.8C

19.6C

Final Water Temp.(C)

35.9C

36.3C

Temperature Change(C)

16.1C

17.3C

3.268(C/g)

3.268(C/g)

Average Temp. Change Per

Gram(C/g)

Conclusion: Lithium Chloride(LiCl) was the most efficient in creating heat and sustaining
that heat. Due to the data in this experiment we decided to use Lithium Chloride(LiCl)
for our handwarmers.
Prototype Data:
Paper Towel with Water in a Plastic Bag with Lithium Chloride(LiCl)
Mass(g)

Initial Temp.(C)

Final Temp(C)

Time(Minutes)

Efficiency (1-5)

2g

26.5C

50.9C

1min. 52 sec.

2g

25.2C

49.6c

1min. 48 sec.

Water Beads with Lithium Chloride (LiCl)

Mass(g)

Initial Temp.
(C)

Final
Temp(C)

Time(Minutes)

Efficiency (1-5)

Water Beads

1g

26.2C

48C

1min. 53 sec.

20

5g

23.8C

58.3C

5min. 15 sec.

10

5g

23.4C

57.1C

5min. 28 sec,

15

Water Beads With Felt and Lithium Chloride (LiCl)

Mass(g)

Initial Temp.
(C)

Final Temp(C)

Time(Minutes)

Efficiency (1-5)

Water Beads

5g

23.5C

In:63.4C- Out: 45.2C

8 min. 22 sec.

15

5g

24.2C

In:62.8C- Out: 47.6C

8 min. 33 sec.

15

Water Beads and Lithium Chloride(LiCl) in a bag, inside a bag of water.

Mass(g)

Initial Temp.
(C)

Final Temp(C)

Time(Minutes)

Efficiency (1-5)

Water Beads

2g

23.7C

33.2C

4min. 23 sec.

2g

24.3C

35.6C

4min. 27 sec.

Water Bead Bag in a Bag of Lithium Chloride, with Cloth Around it.
Mass(g)

Initial Temp.
(C)

Final Temp(C)

Time(Minutes)

Efficiency (1-5)

Water Beads

5g

23.2C

In:62.3C- Out: 45.6C

8 min. 53 sec.

5g

23.6C

In:60.3C- Out:44.7 C

9 min. 22 sec.

Conclusion: Through our 5 prototypes, our last trial with the cloth was the most efficient.
We believed that by using the cloth, the heat is trapped in for a longer about of time,
and is able to distribute the perfect amount of heat to the hands. It does not hold the
head for as long as we hoped, but it is as perfect as we could make it.
3. The main tests we need to conduct are only to ensure safety. Without the felt, our
hand warmer heats up to a dangerous temperature, which we must contain. The felt
usually does this job, but we must ensure it was safe each and every time. These tests
include taking direct temperatures, testing different water bead to lithium chloride, and
concluding our choice of plastic bags.
6. Our hand warmer consists of lithium chloride and a bag of water beads all within a
sealed bag, covered by felt. To start it, you pop the bag containing the water beads,
exposing it to the lithium chloride. Then, these two react creating the heat over a short
period of time. It heats up to a very hot temperature, which is contained by the felt case
resulting in a perfect temperature.