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.
Chemistry Pop Guns
This demo harnesses the reaction of baking soda and vinegar to blow a cork off a test tube.
- 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 / 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.
- Chemical Change / Color Change / Organic Reactions / Redox
- 6.4f / CH.3b / CH.3e / CH.6 / PS.5b