Hell Opener: Burning NH4Cr2O7 with HgSCN Produces Writhing Tentacles [VIDEO]

Nov 19, 2014 09:26 AM EST

The chemical reaction between ammonium chromate (NH4Cr207) and Mercury (II) thiocyanate (HgSCN) produces bizarre tentacles shooting out of the burning chemical compounds, reports IFLScience!

You have to see this video to believe it. Kids seem excited and thrilled as the Kraken-like tentacles are ejected out of the assorted burning compounds.

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It's quite fun or terrifying to watch tentacles emanating from the burning pile. The video actually shows two almost simultaneous reactions.

The first reaction is the ammonium dichromate decomposing and the second reaction is the combusting of the mercury (II) thiocyanate. The combustion is also called an exothermic reaction that releases heat, sound or light.

The orange substance is actually ammonium dichromate. This compound produces gas, nitrogen, water and chromium (III) oxide when burned. The black powder substance in the video is the chromium (III) oxide.

The tentacles are the result of mercury (II) thiocyanate reacting to heat. As it's being burned, the solid white substance expands when subjected to heat.

It then quickly becomes dark colored tentacles as a result of decomposing carbon nitride. The burning compounds also produce sulfur dioxide and mercury (II) sulfide

According to Assignment Expert, the chemical compound mercury (II) thiocyanate is used in pyrotechnics to produce the "Pharaoh's serpent" or the "Pharaoh's snake". When this particular chemical compound is subjected to enough fire or heat, a chemical reaction quickly starts.

Later on, this particular chemical compound was removed and banned in various products including fireworks. It was found that mercury (II) thiocyanante is quite toxic and several people, mostly children, died after eating and ingesting the compound.

Ammonium dichromate is a chemical compound used in early photographs.

This isn't the only video about this particular chemical reaction. A second video shows more dramatic scenes of tentacles forming from solid materials once heated. Unlike the first video, enough heat from a lighter or match is enough to produce the tentacles everyone marvels at.