Old Nassau reaction

The Old Nassau reaction or Halloween reaction is a chemical clock reaction in which a clear solution turns orange and then black. This reaction was discovered by two undergraduate students at Princeton University researching the inhibition of the iodine clock reaction (or Landolt reaction) by Hg²⁺, resulting in the formation of orange HgI₂. Orange and black are the school colors of Princeton University, and "Old Nassau" is a nickname for Princeton, named for its historic administration building, Nassau Hall.

Chemical equation

The reactions involved are as follows:

Na₂S₂O₅ + H₂O → 2 NaHSO₃

IO₃⁻ + 3 HSO₃⁻ → I⁻ + 3 SO₄²⁻ + 3 H⁺

This reaction reduces iodate ions to iodide ions.

Hg²⁺ + 2 I⁻ → HgI₂

Orange mercury iodide solid is precipitated until the mercury is used up.

IO₃⁻ + 5 I⁻ + 6 H⁺ → 3 I₂ + 3 H₂O

The excess I⁻ and IO₃⁻ undergo the iodide-iodate reaction

I₂ + starch → a blue/black complex

A blue/black starch-iodine complex is formed.

See also

• Iodine clock reaction

References

Relevant Sciencemadness threads

• Old Nassau Reaction Variation