Question

What is the role of lycopodium powder?

Answer 1

This problem requires the knowledge of lycopodium in experimentation and laboratory work, particularly in the experiment to estimate the size of molecules of oleic acid. The powder is made up of dry spores from clubmoss plants or fern relatives, often from the genera Lycopodium is a type of lycopodium.

Complete answer: Lycopodium powder is a yellow-tan powder made up of the dried spores of club moss plants and other fern relatives. The spores are extremely flammable when combined with air and are used to produce dust explosions as dramatic special effects. The powder has long been used in physics experiments to explain Brownian motion and other phenomena.
During the experiment to estimate the molecular size of oleic acid, lycopodium material coats the entire water surface. Since oleic acid does not dissolve in water, a drop of the solution spreads on the water surface. The drop moved the lycopodium powder particles away and created a circular area where it landed, allowing us to calculate the distribution of oleic acid.
The film is now uniformly sprinkled with lycopodium powder, and its diameter is calculated. We can measure the thickness of the film based on the value of the drop and the area of the film, which will give us the size of the oleic acid molecule.

Note:
Today, the powder is primarily used to produce big, impressive flashes or flames that are relatively easy to control safely in magic acts as well as for cinematic and theatrical special effects. It was also used as a photographic flash powder in the past. Lycopodium powder is also used as a lubricant dust on latex that comes into contact with the skin.