Rates of Yellow
A reaction between two white solids occurs when lead nitrate and potassium iodide are shaken forcefully producing a mixture of yellow and white solid products. The reaction occurs almost instantaneously when aqueous solutions of these compounds are mixed, precipitating yellow lead iodide.
Pb(NO3)2 + 2KI → PbI2 + 2KNO3
Bubbling Magnesium
When magnesium ribbon is placed in hydrochloric acid, hydrogen gas is produced causing the mixture to bubble.
Mg (s) + 2HCl (aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
If they hydrogen gas is collected, it can be ignited to demonstrate the potential safety concerns of an evolved gas.
H2 (g) + O2 (g) → H2O (g)
Thermite
As two rusty cannon balls (one covered in aluminum foil) are smashed together, sparks and a cracking sound are produced.
Fe2O3 (s) + 2Al (s) → Al2O3 (s) + 2Fe (s)
- Activation Energy / Chemical Change / Energy Transformations / Exothermic Reactions / Light / Mechanochemical Reactions / Redox / Single Replacement Reactions / Sound / Thermodynamics
- 6.2e / 6.4f / CH.3b / CH.3e / CH.3f / PH.7a / PS.5b / PS.6b
Igniting Magnesium
When magnesium is ignited, it is readily oxidized by oxygen in the air producing an incredibly bright light and intense heat.
2Mg (s) + O2 (g) → 2MgO (s)
- Chemical Change / Color Change / Energy Transformations / Exothermic Reactions / Lesson Plans / Light / Synthesis Reactions
- 6.2e / 6.4f / CH.3b / CH.3e / PH.7a / PS.5b / PS.6b
Mass the Gas
In this demo, baking soda and vinegar are mixed in a plastic storage bag. The reaction container is massed before and after the reaction for students to see the Law of Conservation of Mass in action.
NaHCO3 (s) + CH3COOH (aq) →CO2 (g) + H2O (l) + CH3COONa (aq)
Hydrogen Balloons
This demo shows the explosiveness of hydrogen, by igniting a balloon filled with hydrogen.
2H2 (g) + O2 → 2H2O (g)
- Chemical Change / Combustion / Energy Transformations / Exothermic Reactions / Light / Safety / Sound / Synthesis Reactions / Videos
- 6.2e / 6.4f / CH.3b / CH.3e / PH.7a / PS.5b / PS.6b
Fake Blood
This demonstration makes iron (III) thiocyanate complexes that are deep red in color, resembling fake blood.
Colorless to White
This demonstration makes a white precipitate by mixing equal amounts of silver nitrate and potassium chloride.
AgNO3 (aq) + KCl (aq) → KNO3 (aq) + AgCl (s)
Zinc + Ammonium Nitrate
This is a very exciting exothermic reaction that produces a flame and a lot of smoke.
Zn + NH4NO3 → N2 + ZnO + 2 H2O, NaCl is a catalyst
- Catalysis / Chemical Change / Exothermic Reactions / Redox
- 6.4f / BIO.2c / CH.3b / CH.3e / CH.3f / PS.5b
Silly Putty
This is a hands on activity that demonstrates how chemical reactions change the properties of a substance. In this case, borax (sodium borate) changes the sticky properties of Elmer’s glue, to make a fun to play with putty. Elmer’s glue is polyvinyl acetate, and when sodium borate is added to it, a cross-linked polymer is created giving the glue very different properties that make for a fun activity for students!
Red Sunset
The reaction of sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid produces colloidal sulfur which clouds the solution. As the sulfur concentration increases, shorter wavelengths are scattered and longer ones pass through, this causes an increase of reddish color to appear on the overhead.
Na2S2O3 + HCl → 2NaCl + SO2 + S + H2O
- Chemical Change / Color Change / Precipitate Reactions / Wavelengths of Light
- 5.3b / 6.4f / CH.3b / PH.9a / PS.5b / PS.9d
Red Cabbage Indicator
Anthocyanin, which is found in red cabbage, is a natural indicator that can be easily extracted.
Colorful Oxidation States
This demo has a solution in a flask that changes color from pink to blue to green to yellow to orange as the solution is stirred. The different colors are due to the different oxidation states of Mn.
Non-Burning Dollar Bill
When the bill is dipped in the water/alcohol mixture then lit on fire, the water protects the bill from burning. A large amount of the alcohol is vaporized from the heat causing a large flame around the bill.
C2H5OH + 3O2 → 2CO2 + 3H2O
- Chemical Change / Combustion / Heat Capacity of Water / Light
- 6.5b / BIO.2a / CH.3e / CH.5f / PS.5b
Making Chalk
This demo shows how a precipitation reaction works. The precipitate formed is a common ingredient in chalk.
CaCl2 (aq) + Na2CO3 (aq) → NaCl (aq) + CaCO3 (s)
Lemon Fizz
When basic baking soda (NaHCO3) is combined with acidic lemon juice (mainly citric acid, H3C6H5O7) an acid base reaction occurs. The reaction releases CO2 which can be captured using dish soap to form bubbles.
H3C6H5O7 (aq) + 3 NaHCO3 (s) → 3 CO2 (g) + 3 H2O (l) + Na3C6H5O7 (aq)
Jumping Flame
This demo uses a stove made out of aluminum cans that can be lit using knowledge of vapor pressure. When the acetone surrounding the stove is lit, the acetone in the stove boils, releasing vapors that are then lit on fire.
CH3OCH3 + 3O2 → 2CO2 + 3H2O
- Chemical Change / Combustion / Energy Transformations / Light / Uses Household Items / Vapor Pressure / Volatility
- 6.2e / CH.3e / CH.5c / PH.7a / PS.5b / PS.6b
Gummy Bear Sacrifice
Potassium chlorate is such a strong oxidizer that when a gummy bear, which is mostly sugar, is placed into it, the sugar is oxidized violently producing noise and a flame. This demo can be used to discuss strong oxidizers as well as how much energy is in sugar.
- Chemical Change / Color Change / Energy Transformations / Exothermic Reactions / Melting / Redox / Smell Change / Videos
- 6.2e / CH.3b / CH.3e / PH.7a / PS.5b / PS.6b
Gold and Silver Pennies
This demo uses sodium hydroxide to plate Zn on the surface of a copper penny, making it appear silver in color. Zinc is oxidized in sodium hydroxide. The remaining electroplating process is not fully understood. The silvery penny can be heated to melt the zinc and copper together, creating a gold colored alloy.
Genie in a Bottle
This demo makes use of the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to produce a column of steam out of a flask, that looks like a genie coming out of a bottle.
2H2O2 → 2H2O + O2, KI is a catalyst
Elephant’s Toothpaste
Hydrogen peroxide is decomposed quickly in liquid soap with the help of a catalyst to create a large volume of foam that grows out of a graduated cylinder. The soap bubbles contain oxygen.
2H2O2 → 2H2O + O2, KI is a catalyst
Electrocute a Pickle
When electricity is passed through a pickle, it is conducted through Na+ and the Cl- ions that are present in the pickle. The electricity excites the electrons to a higher energy state, and when the fall back to ground state they emit a yellow/orange light.
- Charging by Conduction / Chemical Change / Color Change / Conductors / Energy Transformations / Excited States / Lesson Plans / Light / Smell Change / Sound / Uses Household Items
- 4.3a / 4.3d / 6.2e / CH.2h / CH.2i / PH.7a / PS.11d / PS.5b / PS.6b
Dry Ice in Universal Indicator
Universal indicator goes from red (pH 4) to violet (pH10) as the pH of a substance changes. Adding NaOH to water starts the solution off at pH 8-9 (blue). When dry ice is added to water it forms carbonic acid, and lowers the pH, which is the reason for the color changes. The “fog” that we see is condensed water vapor though, not carbon dioxide gas.
- Acids and Bases / Chemical Change / Color Change / Condensation / Cryogenics / Indicators / Physical Change / Sublimation / Videos
- 1.8b / 2.3c / 3.3c / 5.4b / 6.6d / BIO.2a / CH.4d / CH.5d / LS.11e / PS.2b / PS.5a / PS.5b / PS.7b
Disappearing Ink
This demo uses acid base chemistry and an indicator to make an ink that will appear or disappear depending on the solution added to it. Phenolphthalein, which is clear, reacts with a base, and then turns pink.
- Acids and Bases / Chemical Change / Color Change / Indicators
- BIO.2a / CH.4d / PS.2b / PS.5b
Decomposition of Ammonium Dichromate
This demo decomposes ammonium dichromate using a fuse soaked in ethanol. The reaction is a violent one, that resembles a volcano. Ammonium dichromate is an orange solid, while chromium (III) oxide is a dark green solid.
(NH4)2Cr2O7(s) → Cr2O3(s) + N2(g) + 4H2O(g)
- Chemical Change / Color Change / Decomposition Reactions / Exothermic Reactions / Redox / Videos
- 6.4f / CH.3b / CH.3e / PS.5b
Colored Flames
When different ionic compounds are heated, electrons around the metal atom become excited and jump energy levels. When the electrons fall back to ground state they release light and heat energy. The amount of energy released determined the wavelength and color of the light released, resulting in different colored flames.
- Chemical Change / Color Change / Combustion / Energy Transformations / Excited States / Lesson Plans / Light / Problem Sets / Sound / Thermal Conduction / Wavelengths of Light
- 5.3b / 6.2e / CH.2i / CH.3e / ES.11c / ES.12d / PH.7a / PH.9a / PH.9c / PS.5b / PS.6b / PS.7c / PS.9d
Chemistry Pop Guns
This demo harnesses the reaction of baking soda and vinegar to blow a cork off a test tube.
NaHCO3 (s) + CH3COOH (aq) →CO2 (g) + H2O (l) + CH3COONa (aq)
- Acids and Bases / Chemical Change / Evolution of a Gas / Organic Reactions / Pressure / Uses Household Items
- 6.4f / BIO.2a / CH.3b / CH.4d / CH.5a / CH.6 / PS.2b / PS.5b
Blue Bottle Demo
Under basic conditions glucose is oxidized while methylene blue is reduced, changing from blue to colorless. The reduction reaction can be reversed by shaking the flask which forces oxygen into solution, which oxidizes the methylene blue, thus turning it back to blue. If the flask is let sit, the oxygen will come out of solution making the solution colorless and ready to shake again.
- Chemical Change / Color Change / Equilibrium / Indicators / Lesson Plans / Organic Reactions / Redox
- CH.3e / CH.3f / CH.4d / CH.6 / PS.5b
Black Foam
When sugar is reacted with concentrated sulfuric acid it creates a black foam made of elemental carbon. The water that is produced in the reaction is gaseous and causes the foam to rise.
H2SO4 + C12H22O11 → 12C + 11H2O + a mixture of acid and water
- Chemical Change / Color Change / Decomposition Reactions / Organic Reactions / Redox
- 6.4f / CH.3b / CH.3e / CH.6 / PS.5b
Aluminium Foil and NaOH
This demo simulates what happens when Drano is poured down a clogged drain; the hydrogen gas produced forces gunk out of the drain. Also, this demonstration is a good safety example of why bases need to be handled carefully – they can be corrosive, especially to metals. If the hydrogen gas is collected and ignited, this demo shows the safety hazards that evolved gases can have.
2Al + 2NaOH + 6H2O → 2NaAl(OH)4 + 3H2