Part 3/7:
Reflecting on a pivotal moment from Minnesota at the beginning of the previous year, Gia recounts an experiment referred to as “bang.” Here, silicon carbide elements suffered catastrophic failure due to an explosion, driven by an attempt to heat a reaction involving lithium aluminum hydride and nickel. The aftermath yielded crucial visual evidence—images of damaged materials, colored different shades as chemical reactions unfolded.
Gia explains that the initial red hue observed on a component transitioned to brown over time, which he theorizes may have resulted from lithium being exposed to nitrogen in the air, converting to lithium nitride. This chemical evolution exemplifies how dynamic these reactions can be and underscores the importance of observing how materials behave post-reaction.