Editing Thermite (section)

== Chemical reactions ==
[[Image:ThermiteReaction.jpg|thumb|upright|A thermite reaction using iron(III) oxide. The sparks flying outwards are globules of molten iron trailing smoke in their wake.]]
In the following example, elemental aluminum reduces the oxide of another [[metal]], in this common example [[iron oxide]], because aluminum forms stronger and more stable bonds with oxygen than iron:

: Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> + 2 Al → 2 Fe + Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>

The products are [[aluminium oxide|aluminum oxide]], elemental [[iron]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilpi.com/genchem/demo/thermite/index.html |title=Demo Lab: The Thermite Reaction |publisher=Ilpi.com|access-date=11 October 2011}}</ref> and a large amount of [[heat]]. The reactants are commonly [[powder]]ed and mixed with a binder to keep the material solid and prevent separation.

Other metal oxides can be used, such as chromium oxide, to generate the given metal in its elemental form. For example, a [[copper]] thermite reaction using copper oxide and elemental aluminum can be used for creating electric joints in a process called [[cadwelding]], that produces elemental copper (it may react violently):

: 3 CuO + 2 Al → 3 Cu + Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>

Thermites with nanosized particles are described by a variety of terms, such as metastable intermolecular composites, super-thermite,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navysbir.com/n08_1/N081-020.htm |title=Low-Cost Production of Nanostructured Super-Thermites |publisher=Navysbir.com |access-date=12 October 2011}}</ref> [[nano-thermite]],<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1002/prep.200700273|title=Development of Nanothermite Composites with Variable Electrostatic Discharge Ignition Thresholds|year=2007|last1=Foley|first1=Timothy|last2=Pacheco|first2=Adam|last3=Malchi|first3=Jonathan|last4=Yetter|first4=Richard|last5=Higa|first5=Kelvin|journal=Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics|volume=32|issue=6|pages=431|osti=1454970|url=https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1454970}}</ref> and nanocomposite energetic materials.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ci.confex.com/ci/2005/techprogram/P1663.HTM |title=Reaction Kinetics and Thermodynamics of Nanothermite Propellants |publisher=Ci.confex.com |access-date=15 September 2009 |archive-date=13 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813145201/http://ci.confex.com/ci/2005/techprogram/P1663.HTM |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Dreizin |first1=E. L. |last2=Schoenitz |first2=M. |date=2017 |title=Mechanochemically prepared reactive and energetic materials: a review  |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-017-0912-1 |journal=Journal of Materials Science |volume=52 |issue=20 |pages=11789–11809 | doi=10.1007/s10853-017-0912-1|bibcode=2017JMatS..5211789D |s2cid=136215486 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1063/1.2787972|title=Generation of fast propagating combustion and shock waves with copper oxide/aluminum nanothermite composites|year=2007|last1=Apperson|first1=S.|last2=Shende|first2=R. V.|last3=Subramanian|first3=S.|last4=Tappmeyer|first4=D.|last5=Gangopadhyay|first5=S.|last6=Chen|first6=Z.|last7=Gangopadhyay|first7=K.|last8=Redner|first8=P.|last9=Nicholich|first9=S.|last10=Kapoor|first10=D.|journal=Applied Physics Letters|volume=91|issue=24|pages=243109|bibcode = 2007ApPhL..91x3109A |display-authors=8|hdl=10355/8197|url=https://mospace.umsystem.edu/xmlui/bitstream/10355/8197/1/GenerationFastPorpagatingCombustion.pdf|hdl-access=free}}</ref>