The “Burning Steel Wool” demonstration is an engaging means to illustrate that increasing the amount of available oxygen increases the rate of combustion. A 9-volt battery is used to ignite a small piece of steel wool, first in air, and then in an oxygen-enriched environment.
The Chemical sunset demonstrates the Tyndall effect in a fun and engaging way. We have used this demonstration for both instructional and outreach purposes. Colloidal sulfur is produced by the reaction between sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid.
An aluminum can is not just made of aluminum, but it is lined with a plastic film to prevent oxidation of the inside surface by any acid in the soft drink’s contents. In the experiment, by oxidizing the aluminum from the outside, the intact plastic lining can be seen.
Propane Bubbles continues to be one of our most popular demonstrations among audiences and presenters alike. Propane-filled soap bubbles are generated, released into the air, and then ignited.
This photo capturing the acid-base reaction between ammonia and hydrochloric acid. Inside the bottle it is the vapours of the acid and the base that react...
The “Whoosh Bottle” demonstration has proven to be very popular with audiences of all ages. A small amount of alcohol is placed in a plastic bottle, which is then capped and shaken to allow the alcohol to evaporate and mix with the air.
Chemical reactions are the most exciting part of chemistry class. Over the past five years I have developed an experience-based chemical reactions unit that features instructional videos coupled with a small group laboratory experience, whole-class demonstrations, and an interactive “demo test” as a final assessment.
As the piece of metal skitters across the surface of the water in a beaker and — particularly in the case of potassium — it appears to catch fire, it is not obvious that the explanation for both phenomena lies in the production of hydrogen gas. There is a simple and safe way to demonstrate the reaction.
Sometimes errors appear in textbooks and are propagated like memes. It is unfortunately common for textbook writers to assume that previous texts are correct and that the facts no longer need to be checked. In the case of the combustion of magnesium ribbon in air, the “fact” that a mixture of magnesium oxide and magnesium nitride is formed has become “common knowledge” and appears never to be questioned.
The cover photograph of the November 2014 issue of Chem 13 News (pictured above) is more interesting than it might appear at first glance. (Consider this demonstration 1.)