The Thermodynamics and Kinetics of “HeaterMeals” An Exercise in Undergradua te Inorganic Chemistry

Salt, iron, and magnesium were just too good a combination for an inorganic chemist to resist and, on returning to Cincinnati, I purchased several of these meals in order to explore the chemistry of their “inorganic ovens”. This chemistry turns out to involve a very clever use of elementary thermodynamics, kinetics, and inorganic electrochemistry. Since this chemistry is easily understood by the average chemistry major, investigation of this product can serve as a stimulating undergraduate research project. For this reason, rather than simply summarizing what is in the patent literature, I have instead outlined my own course of investigation in order to illustrate what one can reasonably expect a good student to uncover by means of a few simple observations, test tube experiments, and access to a good technical library.