Difference between revisions of "Chemical demonstrations"
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| − | <p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;">Chemical demonstrations that are amusing or impressive to watch.</p> | + | <p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;">'''Chemical demonstrations''' that are amusing or impressive to watch.</p> |
==Energetic materials== | ==Energetic materials== | ||
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[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4pNXAtPJp8 Video: P-nitroaniline's decomposition demonstration] | [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4pNXAtPJp8 Video: P-nitroaniline's decomposition demonstration] | ||
| − | ===Mercury thiocyanate ("Pharaoh's | + | ===Mercury thiocyanate ("[[Pharaoh's serpent]]")=== |
[[Mercury(II) thiocyanate]] burns forming residues looking like tentacles growing from the ground. | [[Mercury(II) thiocyanate]] burns forming residues looking like tentacles growing from the ground. | ||
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[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k_NmB3_pMg Video: Mercury thiocyanate and ammonium dichromate's combustion. "gates of hell" effect demonstration] | [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k_NmB3_pMg Video: Mercury thiocyanate and ammonium dichromate's combustion. "gates of hell" effect demonstration] | ||
| − | ===Ammonium dichromate ("Volcano")=== | + | ===Ammonium dichromate ("[[Tabletop volcano|Volcano]]")=== |
When [[ammonium dichromate]] burns, it looks like an erupting volcano. | When [[ammonium dichromate]] burns, it looks like an erupting volcano. | ||
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[http://youtu.be/KWJpKNQfXWo video: iodine clock demonstration and theory] | [http://youtu.be/KWJpKNQfXWo video: iodine clock demonstration and theory] | ||
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===Chameleon=== | ===Chameleon=== | ||
5 vivid color changes in a row while the reaction passes through the many different oxidation states of manganese. | 5 vivid color changes in a row while the reaction passes through the many different oxidation states of manganese. | ||
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKlXe2mrnHQ Video: Chameleon demonstration] | [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKlXe2mrnHQ Video: Chameleon demonstration] | ||
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==Light emission== | ==Light emission== | ||
===Fluorescent pH indicator=== | ===Fluorescent pH indicator=== | ||
Pyranine, present in highlighter fluid, will fluoresce different colors in different levels of acidity. | Pyranine, present in highlighter fluid, will fluoresce different colors in different levels of acidity. | ||
| + | |||
===Smash-glow crystals=== | ===Smash-glow crystals=== | ||
Sugar will emit ultraviolet light when crushed. When a fluorescent dye such as methyl salicylate is used, the fluorescence is made much brighter. | Sugar will emit ultraviolet light when crushed. When a fluorescent dye such as methyl salicylate is used, the fluorescence is made much brighter. | ||
| + | |||
==Miscellaneous== | ==Miscellaneous== | ||
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[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP6rTJi59NM Video: carbon snake demonstration] | [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP6rTJi59NM Video: carbon snake demonstration] | ||
| + | |||
==Alkali metals== | ==Alkali metals== | ||
===In the presence of water=== | ===In the presence of water=== | ||
| − | [[Lithium]] will effervesce strongly | + | [[Lithium]] will effervesce strongly and may ignite; |
| + | |||
| + | [[Sodium]] will do so more strongly and more often than not catches fire, potentially exploding when in large amounts; | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Potassium]] catches fire and almost always explodes; | ||
| − | [[ | + | [[Rubidium]] and [[caesium]] will explode unless added in tiny amounts. |
| − | [ | + | [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uixxJtJPVXk Video: Alkali metals reaction with water] |
| − | [[ | + | ==See also== |
| + | *[[Chemistry around the internet]] | ||
| − | + | ==References== | |
| + | <references/> | ||
| + | ===Relevant Sciencemadness threads=== | ||
[[Category:Demonstrations]] | [[Category:Demonstrations]] | ||
[[Category:Resources for amateur chemists]] | [[Category:Resources for amateur chemists]] | ||
[[Category:How-to]] | [[Category:How-to]] | ||
Latest revision as of 20:04, 16 October 2022
Chemical demonstrations that are amusing or impressive to watch.
Contents
Energetic materials
Explosive decomposition of Para-nitroaniline
Para-nitroaniline explodes, leaving an impressive mount of carbon behind under the attack of hot concentrated sulfuric acid.
Video: P-nitroaniline's decomposition demonstration
Mercury thiocyanate ("Pharaoh's serpent")
Mercury(II) thiocyanate burns forming residues looking like tentacles growing from the ground.
Video: mercury thiocyanate's combustion demonstration
Ammonium dichromate ("Volcano")
When ammonium dichromate burns, it looks like an erupting volcano.
Video: ammonium dichromate's combustion demonstration
Iodine and aluminium
When aluminium and iodine are combined in the presence of a small amount of water, they react to produce thick purple smoke and leaves a metallic coating on the glass.
Video: Iodine and aluminium demonstration
Color changes
Briggs-Rauscher oscillator
Very pronounced and rapid color changes repeating again and again and again.
Video: iodine oscillator demonstration
Iodine clock reaction
Colorless solutions becoming deep blue/black almost instantaniously after a small delay.
video: iodine clock demonstration and theory
Chameleon
5 vivid color changes in a row while the reaction passes through the many different oxidation states of manganese.
Video: Chameleon demonstration
Light emission
Fluorescent pH indicator
Pyranine, present in highlighter fluid, will fluoresce different colors in different levels of acidity.
Smash-glow crystals
Sugar will emit ultraviolet light when crushed. When a fluorescent dye such as methyl salicylate is used, the fluorescence is made much brighter.
Miscellaneous
Elephant toothpaste
The rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide with a catalyst (usually potassium iodide or yeast) in soapy water generates a huge amount of hot foam due to oxygen generation.
Video: Elephant toothpaste demonstration
Carbon snake
Materials needed: granular sugar and concentrated (98%) sulfuric acid, acid resistant gloves
Procedure: Pour concentrated sulfuric acid directly onto sugar.
Result: a tower of porous carbon forms after a delay period.
Video: carbon snake demonstration
Alkali metals
In the presence of water
Lithium will effervesce strongly and may ignite;
Sodium will do so more strongly and more often than not catches fire, potentially exploding when in large amounts;
Potassium catches fire and almost always explodes;
Rubidium and caesium will explode unless added in tiny amounts.
Video: Alkali metals reaction with water
