{"id":265,"date":"2016-08-20T08:48:56","date_gmt":"2016-08-20T08:48:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.labnetwest.colourfi.com\/?p=265"},"modified":"2025-12-22T06:03:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-21T22:03:51","slug":"science-chemistry-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ciderhousetest.com\/labnetwest26\/science-chemistry-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Science Chemistry Show:"},"content":{"rendered":"

BIG LITTLE SCIENCE CHEMISTRY SHOW:<\/strong>
\nPlanning amounts for 3 shows, plus 3 trial runs
\n1. LUMINOL \u201cLIGHT PIPE\u201d<\/strong>
\nEquipment:
\nbig stand with clamps and tubing
\n2 L beaker
\nbig glass funnel
\nsmall step\u2013ladder
\nSolutions: 3\u2013Bottle A (Dilute 4.0 g Na2CO3 to 500 mL, add 0.2 g Luminol and stir to dissolve. Add 24.0 g
\nNaHCO3 , 0.5 g (NH4)2CO3\u2022H2O and 0.4 g CuSO4\u20225H2O and dissolve. Dilute to 1 L.)
\n3\u2013Bottle B (50 mL of 3% H2O2 diluted to 1 L)
\nTo Perform: Pour equal amounts of bottles A and B into funnel, with lights off (adjust pouring rate to get maximum glow)
\nWhat is Happening: Luminol is a special molecule which reacts to form a product having electrons in a highly excited energy level. As the molecule loses energy and its electrons fall down to a lower energy state, the energy lost is in the form of light.
\n2. DRAGON\u2019S BREATH<\/strong>
\nEquipment:
\nCandle taped to the end of a meter stick
\nmatches
\nspray bottle
\nChemicals: Make a mixture of 100 mL of ethanol, 15 mL of water and about 3 g of lithium chloride. Shake to
\ndissolve as much lithium chloride as possible.
\nTo perform:
\nPut about 50 mL of ethanol in the spray bottle. Hold a lit candle at arm\u2019s length. Hold the spray bottle about 4\u20136 inches from the candle and quickly spray ethanol through the flame.
\nThis should produce a nice little fireball that lasts for a second.
\n3. ELEPHANT\u2019S TOOTHPASTE<\/strong>
\nEquipment:
\n500 mL graduated cylinder
\ngloves
\nsponges for clean up
\nSolutions: 300 mL of 30% hydrogen peroxide
\n45 mL of dish washing detergent
\n30 g of potassium iodide
\nTo Perform:
\nWEAR GLOVES! Pour about 100 mL of hydrogen peroxide into the graduated cylinder, add about 15 mL of detergent and add about 10 g of sodium iodide. Huge yellow worm springs out of cylinder!
\nWhat is happening: The hydrogen peroxide oxidizes the iodide ion to iodine, while simultaneously releasing oxygen gas. The gas is trapped in the detergent, creating a foam.
\n4. SHAVING CREAM IN A VACUUM<\/strong>
\nEquipment:
\nVacuum pump
\nbell jar with bell jar base
\ncan of shaving cream
\nlarge Petri dish supported over three pieces of wood (to avoid plugging of air exit hole)
\nvacuum hose.
\nTo perform:
\nPut a generous daub of shaving cream in Petri dish, put bell jar over dish base, turn stopcock to off, connect vacuum pump to bell at stopcock and turn on pump. Open stopcock and watch shaving cream swell up and completely fill inside.
\nWhat is happening: The shaving cream is full of gas bubbles in equilibrium with the gas pressure of the atmosphere pushing down on the bubbles. When the air is removed, the bubbles expand.
\n5. DISAPPEARING WATER<\/strong>
\nEquipment: Part A:
\nsmall glass (with even lip)
\n6\u2013pieces of cardboard (About 15 cm x 15 cm)
\nPart B: Styrofoam cup
\n15 cm square piece of cardboard having \u201cDo not remove this cardboard\u201d written on
\n400 mL beaker
\nChemicals: jug of water, sodium polyacrylate powder
\nTo Perform: Part A: Fill the glass 3\/4 full of water, place the cardboard over the end of the glass and invert the glass. Let go of the cardboard and the water stays in the glass.
\nPart B: Put some sodium polyacrylate powder into a Styrofoam cup (ahead of time, unseen).
\nHave a student hold the cup in the air with both hands. Then pour water out of the pitcher into the cup and put the second piece of cardboard over the mouth of the cup. While the student is still holding the cup, turn it upside down over the student\u2019s head and lower the cup onto the student\u2019s head. Then, pull the piece of cardboard out and have the student read the card. Finally, lift the cup up off the student\u2019s head, showing that no water comes out.
\nWhat is Happening:
\nPart A:
\nAs the water tries to come down out of the glass, the pressure inside the cup is lowered. The greater pressure of the atmosphere outside then pushes the cardboard firmly against the rim of the glass.
\nPart B:
\nThe sodium polyacrylamide quickly forms a gel when water is added.
\n6. MELTING STYROFOAM CUP<\/strong>
\nEquipment:
\n250 mL acetone in juice bottle, with small label
\n500 mL distilled water in juice bottle, with small label
\n4 new Styrofoam cups
\nTo perform:
\nPour distilled water into cup and drink. Ask if someone else wants a \u201cnice strong drink\u201d and quickly pour half a cupful of acetone (HOLD IT OVER AN ORANGE BUCKET WHEN OFFERING IT TO SOMEONE \u2013 you have 3 seconds before the bottom drops out!)
\n7. DRY HANDS IN WET WATER<\/strong>
\nEquipment:
\n2 L beaker
\njug of water
\nChemicals: Lycopodium powder in a test tube
\nTo Perform:
\nPour test tube of Lycopodium powder onto the surface of the beaker of water. Slowly push hand below the surface of the water and then bring your hand back out. The hand will be dry.
\nWhat is Happening: Lycopodium powder is \u201chydrophobic\u201d (it repels water, similar to oil). When a hand
\nis pushed down into the water, a thin layer of air is trapped between the hand and the powder. Since the powder repels water, the hand remains dry. The beautiful silvery colour of the water against the hand is actually the reflection of light off the water\u2013air interface. (This might be similar to how a fish sees the sky.)
\n8. SMOKE CANNON<\/strong>
\nEquipment:
\nSmoke cannon
\npaper towel
\nextra elastics (large and long)
\nSolutions: Concentrated hydrochloric acid (in squirt bottle)
\nConcentrated ammonia (in squirt bottle)
\nTo Perform:
\nPlace some ammonia and hydrochloric acid at different places on paper towel inside cannon.
\nPull back handle and fire.
\nWhat is Happening: Ammonia and hydrochloric acid give off fumes which combine to form a \u201csmoke\u201d made of solid ammonium chloride. As the air rushes out of the mouth of the cannon, a region of partial vacuum forms in the region behind the onward\u2013rushing air. This partial vacuum pulls in the surrounding air and forms a doughnut\u2013like \u201cvortex\u201d which is similar to a miniature \u201ctornado\u201d.
\n9. THE METHYLENE BLUE TRAFFIC LIGHT<\/strong>
\nEquipment:
\n500 mL Florence flask with stopper to fit
\nChemicals: 300 mL distilled water
\n8 g potassium hydroxide
\n10 g dextrose
\n6\u20138 drops of methylene blue indicator (indicator solution prepared by dissolving 0.20 g
\nmethylene blue in 100 mL water)
\nTo perform:
\nDissolve 8 g KOH in 300 mL distilled water in 500 mL Florence flask. Just prior to doing the demonstration, dissolve 10 g dextrose in the KOH solution and then add 6\u20138 drops of methylene blue solution. Swirl the flask and allow it to sit undisturbed until it becomes colourless (about one minute).
\nTo do the demonstration, give the flask a quick shake or two. The blue colour appears again and then slowly fades. This process can be repeated many times.
\nWhat is Happening: The oxygen present in the flask oxidizes the methylene blue dye to its blue form. The basic conditions cause the dextrose to reduce the methylene blue dye to its colourless form.
\nShaking the flask reintroduces more oxygen into the solution and re-oxidizes the methylene blue to its blue form, continuing the cycle until the oxygen in the flask is used up.
\n10. SUPERFAST ICE<\/strong>
\nEquipment:
\n6\u2013250 mL flasks, with stoppers
\n2\u2013yellow tote trays
\n600 mL beaker (to contain scrapings)
\nspatula
\nSolutions:
\nIn a clean 250 mL flask, dissolve 130 g of sodium acetate in 100 mL distilled water (with heating). Stopper and let cool COMPLETELY UNDISTURBED. Prepare 6 such flasks.
\nAlso have on hand a small beaker with a gram or so of sodium acetate crystals.
\nTo perform:
\nCarefully move the flask to where the demonstration will take place \u2013 DON\u2019T JAR IT!
\nUnstopper the flask and, while holding the flask up for the audience to see, add a couple of crystals of sodium acetate.
\nWhat is Happening: Sodium acetate has a peculiar crystal structure. When this compound is melted, it is difficult for the molecules to \u201cremember\u201d how to form a crystal again. The solution is \u201csupersaturated\u201d and when a crystal of sodium acetate is added to the liquefied material, the sodium acetate suddenly \u201cremembers\u201d how to crystallise and BINGO!
\n11. NEON LIGHT AND FLUORESCENT LIGHT<\/strong>
\nEquipment:
\nOld neon sign from sign company specialising in neon signs
\nstands and clamps for neon lights
\nfluorescent tube
\nTesla coil
\nTo perform: Touch one end of the neon light with an operating Tesla coil. A bright red light emission from neon is seen near the metal electrodes; the colour then changes depending on the coating inside the glass tube. (Argon lights give a blue emission.)
\nHave one person hold the fluorescent tube and another person touch the Tesla coil to the tube, lighting up the tube.
\n12. GUNCOTTON<\/strong>
\nEquipment:
\ncandle and matches
\nChemicals: pieces of guncotton
\nTo Perform: throw the guncotton into a flame
\nWhat is Happening: The cellulose in the cotton has been treated with nitric acid to make nitrocellulose, which burns rapidly and leaves no residue.
\n13. AN ORGANIC RAINBOW<\/strong>
\nEquipment:
\n500 mL separatory funnel
\n2\u2013400 mL beaker (one to contain HCl and one to catch liquid from separatory funnel)
\n1 L beaker to hold ice for cooling HCl
\ndistillation apparatus (optional)
\nmagnetic stirrer, with stir bar
\n500 mL graduated cylinder or (600 mL beaker and 250 mL graduated cylinder)
\n10 mL graduated cylinder
\ndropping pipette
\nChemicals:
\n250 mL 70% ethanol (175 mL of ethanol + 75 mL of water)
\n1 mL of tert\u2013butyl chloride
\n4 mL of universal indicator a few millilitres of 1 M NaOH
\nTo perform:
\nInto either a 500 mL graduated cylinder or a 600 mL beaker place 250 mL of distilled water and 250 mL of isopropyl alcohol. Place the container on a magnetic stirrer and begin stirring. Add 1 mL of tert-butyl chloride and stir for another 15 seconds, add 4 mL of universal indicator and stir for another 15 seconds. Finally, add a few drops of 1 M NaoH and continue stirring. The initial blue colour will turn to green, orange and finally red. The process can be repeated by adding some additional NaOH to the reaction mixture.
\n14. DISSOLVING STYROFOAM<\/strong>
\nEquipment:
\nMagnetic stirrer, with stirring bar
\n2 L beaker
\nlarge bag of polystyrene packing chips
\nChemicals:
\n400 mL of acetone
\nTo perform: Rapidly stir 400 mL of acetone in the 2 L beaker. As the foam chips are added, they rapidly dissolve. Students are usually amazed at the large volume of chips that can be reduced to a substantially smaller volume.
\n15. OSCILLATING REACTION: YELLOW AND BLUE<\/strong>
\nEquipment:
\nMagnetic stirrer, stir bar, 500 mL beaker, 3\u2013100 mL graduated cylinders, piece of white paper to serve as a backdrop, sticky tape.
\nSolutions: Solution A = 120 mL 30% hydrogen peroxide added to 300 mL distilled water
\nSolution B = 1.29 g potassium iodate and 1.5 mL concentrated sulphuric acid added separately to
\n400 mL distilled water
\nSolution C = Make a paste of 0.15 g soluble starch in some hot water and add, with
\nstirring, to 500 mL water. Then add 7.8 g malonic acid and 1.7 g MnSO4\u2022H2O.
\nTo Perform:
\nPut 50 mL solution A in 600 mL beaker and sit on magnetic stirrer at lowest setting. Then
\nadd 50 mL solution B and then 50 mL solution C.
\n16. LYCOPODIUM EXPLODER<\/strong>
\nEquipment:
\nLycopodium exploder (see reference or below)
\nsmall birthday candle
\nmatch
\nrubber tubing: 10 mm OD, 150 cm
\nwide stem Beral pipette
\nsponge (for clean up)
\nChemicals: Bottle of Lycopodium powder
\nTo perform:
\nInsert the tubing into the bottom of the plastic bottle. Arrange the candle so the wick is in the centre of the bottle. Use the pipette to place 3\u20135 \u201cloads\u201d of Lycopodium into the bottle end of the tubing. Make sure the end of the tubing is aimed at the end of the candle and light the candle. Turn off the room lights: take a large breath and blow into the other end of the tubing. A huge fireball erupts above the bottle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BIG LITTLE SCIENCE CHEMISTRY SHOW: Planning amounts for 3 shows, plus 3 trial runs 1. LUMINOL \u201cLIGHT PIPE\u201d Equipment: big stand with clamps and tubing 2 L beaker big glass funnel small step\u2013ladder Solutions: 3\u2013Bottle A (Dilute 4.0 g Na2CO3 to 500 mL, add 0.2 g Luminol and stir to dissolve. Add 24.0 g NaHCO3 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[25],"class_list":["post-265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-experiments","tag-science-chemistry-show"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ciderhousetest.com\/labnetwest26\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ciderhousetest.com\/labnetwest26\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ciderhousetest.com\/labnetwest26\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ciderhousetest.com\/labnetwest26\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ciderhousetest.com\/labnetwest26\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=265"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ciderhousetest.com\/labnetwest26\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/265\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ciderhousetest.com\/labnetwest26\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ciderhousetest.com\/labnetwest26\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ciderhousetest.com\/labnetwest26\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}