CHEM GEMS & JOULES

George R. Hague, Jr.

THE GUMMY BEAR REACTION (or just how much energy can you get from oxidizing sugar?)

I learned this variation of the old potassium chlorate blow torch demonstration from Allan Stenmark while we were both attending the 1985 Dreyfus Chemistry Teacher Institute at Princeton University. Allen teaches chemistry at Oak Creek Senior H.S., Oak Creek, Wisconsin 53154.

This is a really neat and impressive demonstration.

Because of the large amounts of smoke produced in the reaction, it should be done either outdoors with a portable Bunsen burner or in a fumehood. REMEMBER THAT POTASSIUM CHLORATE IS A VERY STRONG OXIDIZING AGENT. MIXTURES OF POTASSIUM CHLORATE AND COMBUSTIBLES ARE FLAMMABLE AND MAY BE EXPLOSIVE. NEVER GRIND A CHLORATE WITH A MORTAR AND PESTLE!

PROCEDURfJL . __

Clamp a 25 x 150mm Pyrex test tube vertically halfway up a ringstand. Pour in about 10- 15 grams of potassium chlorate (about 2cm in depth) in the test tube. Using a Bunsen burner. play its flame around the test tube at the upper portion of the potassium ch lorate until it is warm enough to start melting. This should take approximately one to two minutes. Then drop one Gummy Bear or some other small piece of hard sugar candy (such as a butterscotch drop) into the test tube. Step back and observe. NOTE: THE TEACHER SHOULD BE WEARING GOGGLES, AND THE STUDENTS SHOULD BE AT LEAST 10 TO 15 FEET AWAY FROM THE DEMONSTRATION. If no reaction takes place, place the burner flame near the location of the candy and the potassium chlorate.

The heating of potassium chlorate produces enough oxygen gas to ignite the sugar in the candy. This exothermic reaction then continues to decompose more potassium chlorate to oxygen which makes the reaction more violent. A beautiful violet potassium flame results in the test tube. Point out that the oxygen from the potassium chlorate reacts with the carbon in the sugar, whereas, the oxygen in the sugar remains with the water driven off.

EQUATIONS:

2 KClO, ---+ 2 KCI + 3 0: and

3 O2 + CI2H22011--.9C + 3 CO2 + II HOH + Energy

After the experiment has been completed, the residue in the test tube should be allowed to cool. The test tube should then be filled with tap water. After approximately 24-48 hours, any remaining potassium chlorate and sugar in the test tube should be dissolved. The solution should

.xmred down the drain and flushed with additional water. The test tube may then be cleaned in the usual' manner.

NOTE:

Teachers of IPS (Introductory Physical Science) may prefer to use sodium chlorate. It works just as well as potassium chlorate and gives a very nice yellow sodium flame. It is strongly recommended that this demonstration be done after the- IPS experiment dealing with the generation of oxygen (Prentice-Hall. 1982) rather than before it. UNDER NO CONDITIONS SHOULD STUDENTS BE ALLOWED TO PERFORM THE GUMMY BEAR DEMONSTRATION. PRIOR TO DOING THIS EXPERIMENT IN THE CLASSROOM, THE TEACHER SHOULD HAVE PRACTICED IT SEVERAL TIMES \VITHOUT ANY STUDENTS PRESENT.

CHEM GEMS & JOULES

George R. Hague, Jr.

IH1: P.4'lRJOllC FLAG IJl:.kWNSTRA710N

This i., a favorite demonstration of a retired master chemistry teacher by the name of Rex T. Morrison. Rex now lives ill Williford. Arkansas.

Four solutions are prepared in ad vance:

I) O.t)OIO\l porassium ferrocyanide is prepared by adding. O"+2g of potassium ferrocyanide per litre of solut iUII.

2) 0.OU56.\[ Icrric ammonium sulfate is made by adding. 2. 7Ug of the dodccahydrate/litre of solution.

3) 0.10\1 barium chloride is made by adding 24,43g of barium chloride dihydrate/litre of solution.

4) lH)20.\I KSCN is made by adding 1.94g of KSC ~ 'litre of solution .

Three 250 nil. beakers are filled to the 100 111L mark with (J.()20:-'1 KSCN in the first beaker, 0.10M barium chloride in the second beaker. and the 0.00) OM potassium fe rrocyanide in the third beaker. The ferric .uumonium sulfate solution should be poured from a fourth beaker or a jug into each of the first three beakers h-ied above I first. SCl'UI1li. and third) in order to obtain the desired red, white. and blue. The red color formed in beaker number one is due to the formation of the thiocvanato iron (III) ion. A white precipitate of barium sul fate is funned in beaker two. while" Pruss ian Blue" i:-; funned in beaker three.

A light box will help in displaying the resulting solutions. A more dramatic effect will result if the musical march "Stars and Stripes Forever" is played during the demonstration. The waving of an American flag behind the demonstration will also add a dramatic flair to the presentation. This is a particularly good demonstration to do on patriotic holidays such as President ~ Day and the 4th or J lily. (Editor's note: Play "Texas, Our Texas" and wave a Lone Star Flag, and it \\ ork« cLll.all~ well for the Texas Sesquicentennial on March .2).

GETTING A "BANG" OUT OF CHEMICAL KINETICS

George R. Hague, Jr.

St. Mark's School of l'exas 1060W Preston Road Dallas, 1X 75230

Looking for an Informative and entertaining demonstration on k :i. 1""', E,t. :i. C ,,,. '-;:0 T Ir."y, U j,::. :i. 1""', U ii:1 11.13 :i. iJ B <::1 r', cJ 11:1. c:: <::1]. c: :I. \.\rn c; ii:"1.1~ b :i. cl E' c i"ln n on • This authClr has successfully used this demClnstration in the classroClm and in chemistry shows attractinu as many as 1 !::.:.i '.! (ZJ (Zl (tl P c' C) pIE' ..

To do this demClnstration, use a mCldel 15FC Major ~Ield Cannon Clr mCldel 155MM Cannon Cln eight rubber wheels. Set-up the cannCln as per the manufacture's instructions .. Push down twice on the charger plunger in Clrder to add the cClrrect amount of calcium carbide tn the water in the cannCln ..

Reaction:

CaC2CM> + HOHc1> = CaOc~> + C2H2C~>

calcium carbide + water = calcium Clxide + acetylene gas

AIIClw a few seconds fClr the acetylene gas prClduced to mix with the air in the cannon. Pull up on the ignItor plunger (flint and ste81) and then give it a quick push down- a loud

b c:\ n q I'" fl.,' s.u I t. ~:.:. ,"I j::. thE' en :i. ;.~ t U I'" E' :i. s::· ~:::. p i:,'1 , r- k f.'~ d ! ! ' !

Reaction:

C2H2(g) + 5/2 02Cg> - 2C02(g) + HOHcg)

d f" 1 t; ,::1 H···· .... :1. '.' ';;:: ;::i !::.:.i .. :::~, k J'

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c: I'" i;:! i::I. t; :i. n q ,,\ P ,':1 I'" t i i::, I \1 i:~. c: U. u. en .. "I' I"', (,,' I'" E'! ~::.I..\ I t; :i. 1"', i.:.i I'" f:,' j::) C) I'''' t. C) I'" II 1:) c:lr", (:.:J II

C CI in (';~ !:::. + I'" C) In "1::.1"', F!! II :i. 1""', ...•• 1' .. u j:::.I···, :i. 1""', q II C) f t.I···, F!! ;:ol:i r" t; 0 f:l lIt hE:! V ;"1 C:: u u en

that has been created by t.he react.ion ..

Immediately after the first firing of the cannon, add two more plungers full of the calcium carbide and reflre the cannon .. A small yellow flame and some black smoke will result, but there WIll be very little noise (much tCl the surprise Clf your students) .. Most of the oxygen available for combustion was used in the first firing. The limited supply of oxygen in the cannCln results in Incomplete cDmbustion of

t.I···,t"2 i::I.C f",t ":/ 1 f,,'nE:' !::I.n d or: Lv <::1. ~::.l"ni"I.:I..I. II pu+ -f II :i. so· hE~E:II'" d "

For your thIrd -firing, blow your breath through the

i. q 1""', i t; C) I'" D P E~ n :i. n C:.I i::I";: t 1-:01" t.h E,' :i. q 1""', :i. t. C) t··· 1""1 i::1 !,; b G! E".'I··, I .. ·· (':! in o \i t:!.' c:I " 'j h :i .. ::::.

will replenish the oxyqen supply.. Replace the ignitor,

I'" \,.:! 1 o i::I. d t.I"·, ("~ c:: <"I. 1""', 1""', o r", '! <::1. n d + :i. " .. E,' .... <:":"1. \/ (:::'1'" y 1 o u d II b ,::, n q II !,\1 i 1 :I. " .. (.", '''; 1...11 "1::.

as cDmbustion will aqain he complete. For your grand finale,

remove the ignitor and add pure oxygen from a lecture

t 1"',1'" C) U q I"', t.I···, E·' :i. [.:.1 1""', :i. t; L) I'" C) P F! 1""', :i. I", q.. H (:::~ FI 1 ,::"I. c: E,' "1::.1"', E~ :i. (.I 1"") :i. "1":. C) r ':":11""', c:I

I:::'C::.t:.tlE' I'··E':I. C)i;:l.c:I

the cannon. Fjre in the usual mannpr- a very loud bang r' E~ ~;:, ul 1.:, bE',' c: ,,~,I, ,I ~:::, ('iI.' 0 + t, h (,:! q r' (0 c,\ t E~ I'" C o 1'''1 r; c'! n t, Y" <::-, t. i 01'''1 0 + c- ::-,'/ Cj F~ n versus the usual 21% in air'.

T h :i, !,,;. au. t 1'''1 0 I'" 1'''1 i,!\ ~::" + [)I..,\I"'I d t 1"'1 E' c: "HI 1'''1 o n ~',', ;,', ,::\ + E'\ t; C) h ';:', n d J (;:! E\ 1'''1 rI used them since 1976 for sound effects in science shows

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classroom demonstrations plus as an accompanIment for the II 1 H:I. 2 U"'iE:'I'" 1.':,1...11'" t?!., II " (~Id d :i, t:,1 on i::\ 1 u ~:;f!.'!~::', i::I.Y" H + Dr i)t 1"1 J o+ i c: i:?~\/fi~r"l t '::: such as football games and for general all around fun"

lCalcium carbide cannons are sold under the trademark of "Big Bang". They sell for approximately $50 and are available by writing to the following: Conestoga Company, Inc., P.O. Box 405, Bethlehem, PA 18016. Be sure to request an educational discount.

An 101 E.

additional source is the Edmund Scientific Gloucester Pike, Barrington, NJ 08007.

Company,

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'f I ·fL.E:: MONEY TO BURN

MAIN OBJECTIVE: To show that paper will not ignite if its temperature is keep below the its kindling point.

TIME REQUIRED~ 5 MINUTES

APPLICABILITY LEVEL.~ All levels of chemistry

MATERIALS: 250 mL. of solvent consisting of 60 parts methyl alcohol and 40 parts water, 400 mL. beaker, tongs, Bunsen burner, and a $1.00 bill from a member of the audience. Ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol may be substituted in plc:(cE:~ of thE' iT,'·:.~t.h·yl alcohol" (It I"', <:;(!::. bt-:!!£-?n ~-·fi!!por··tf",d that c.~ solvent mixture of one part ethyl alcohol to six parts water by volume works very well. It is suggested that the ratio be carefully checked prior to actually performing the demonstration in front of a group,,)

HAZARDS: The alcohol/water mixture is flammable. Care should be taken when working around flames. Avoid contact of the alcohol with your skin. An incorrectly prepared solution could result in burning up the dollar bill! (This is known as the embarrassment hazard.)

PROCEDURE: In advance, prepare the solvent mixture by the final addition of water or alcohol until a composition has been obtained which will not ignite a paper towel when soaked in the mixture and then ignited with a Bunsen burner flame (roughly 60% methyl alcohol, 40% water). Experiment with this mixture in advance!!!

For the demonstration, obtain a $1.00 bill or larger from the audience. Place the bill in the solvent mixture (in a beaker) and then by means of tongs, ignite the $1.00 bill in a Bunsen burner flame and hold it high in the air while the lights are off (the blue alcohol flame will be very difficult or impossible to see with the lights on). 8e sure the open alcohol beaker is not near the burner flame. After completing the demonstration, the bill may then be returned to its rather nervous owner.

DISPOSAL.: Return $1.00 bill to its owner. The alcohol/water mixture should be stored in a sealed container and placed in a flammable storage cabinet. It should be retested and adjusted when repeating this experiment at a future tiate.

DISCUSSION: Paper burns at 232°C. The water in the mixture kE"(7:"j:i!;:; thE': t€·?mp(7!!lr·,::(tt . .u--·E': bel cn'J "thE? lei. n d I :i. ng p o i nt. I f you fE::'cd very brave, try burning a $20 bill. BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR BURNING SOLVENT IN ADVANCE. An interesting twist to this

d E': IT! D n !::. t. r' <:d.:. i on i !:; t. o b u rn y CH .. !f" 'f j, )"', i:d i~:-: i::( m i n <'i( t ion s •

1-" Tr'l rs I ur 1'-'

~~ ~\b .. _ 'O~ This demonstration may be done in conjunction

I,'JJ t.h ~-I'-II-" "1-'1"'c-I-) F"'··· r"1'-, ":I It·

....... :- ~'. . c~ .. '" . -dt.!·7!.~ t:f.,:mon!:;·:.,"·a··.:l.on ;"anc! on c:d':I'H'n-' ,,,,cti\iitiEE'~:;

relatIng to rapld combustion.

PEFEF:ENCF:: The Alchemist's Cookboo" ·'L·'···I'····t··-·lIC···t··l· .... , ... a I

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Development Centre, McMaster Univer~itv, Hamilton Ontario,

Canada L8S 4M1 (1977). ,.,

SUBr'l I TTED BY ~

GEDliGE:: F';:" HPIGUE

St. Mark's School of Texas 10600 Preston Road

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INSTANT HOT SHAVING LATHER

Water, detergent. and potassium iodide are mixed in a tall glass cylinder. When concentrated hydrogen peroxide is added to the mixture the ruction generatlS i mountc1ln of steaming hot la.ther.

MATERIALS:

3 to 4 grams potassium iodide, K1 30 mL witer

20 mL of dishwashing detergent

SO mL of 30'1. or 50% hydrogen~roxide, H202 large Pyrex cylinder (SOO-mU

large plastic tube or fish aquarium

rubber gloves and goggles

PROCEDURE:

Dissolve the pota.ssium iodide in the water in the cylinder. Add the deter·gent and swirl gently to mix in the detergent. Place the cylinder in the center of the tub or aquarium. Add the hvdr oqen peroxide rapidly and stand back, The lather may shoot a few feet into the air a.nd may even overfill the tub. Have wet paper towels ready to clean up any overflows of lather.

HAZARDS:

Potassium iodide is poisonous and the reaction generates poisonous iodine.

Concentrated hydrogen peroxide is a powerful oxidizer and must be handled with extreme care. It rapldly burns the skin and may cause i fire if spilled on c:ombustiblematerials. Rinse. everything with plenty of water. Wear rubber gloves and a face shiald at all times when worKlng wrtn 30"" hydrogen peroxide.

DISPOSAL:

Rir1se all substances down the sinK with plenty of water.

DISCUSSION:

Again I do not have the mechanism for this reaction. I do Know that some of the catalyst is converted into iodine while decomposing hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water.

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H·S.

DEMb #16: COOKING OIL FIRE:

The instructor starts a small 'simulate cooking oil fire in a small pot. The instructor attempts to put out the fire with water but prodUCiS r1 gia.nt fireball.

MATERIALS:

paraffin or candle wax small metal pot

iron ring within which to mount the pot ring stand

burner

newspapers

squirt bottle of water fire ex tinguisher

PROCEDURE:

Cover the bench or location with newspaper to catch the splattering wax. The iron ring should hold the metal pot firmly in place to prevent accidental spills.

A ttsch the iron ring and metil.l pot about 15 inches up the ring stand. Place enough wax in the pot to fill the pot a.nd heat with the burner to flrst melt than overheat the wa>: to ignition.

When the wax is gently burning remove the burner and from at least three feet awa y squirt some water into the burning wax. The fire will noisily flare up into a huge fireball that shoulc reach a 10 foot high ceiling. You may wish to do this experiment outdoors. The burning wax in the pot usually goes out by itself within c1 few seconds.

l-!AZAR;:;~:

All splattering wax fires are potentially very danger'ous. Move the students at lea.st twenty feet away from the reachon area. The ruction is spectacular at great distances.

ChecK for flammable materals above the ruction area a.nd for the presence of flre detection devices.

Never reheat the wax once it has been wet Slnce the wax violently splatters. When the wax has hardened simply scrape out the old wa.x, heat to eliminate all traces of water and refill with dry wax.

DISPOSAL:

Discard ha.rdened wet wax in the waste can.

DISCUSSION:

Most waxes and oils have melting points well below 100°C at."; have densities below that of water but have boiling points much higher than that of water. When the wax or oil are burning 'they are very near their boiling points of over 3000C. [21J When water 1S squirted onto the burning oil the water first sinKs (higher densrty) and rapidly boils (the temperature of the oil is much higher than the boiling point of water) and the rising bubbles of rapidly expanding water vapor splatters fine droplets of the oil or wax into the air where they are ignited ilnd burn rapidly. Again we iU that increased surface area grutly increases the rate of ruction.

Explam to the students the proper methods of extinguishing gruse fires in the Kitchen.

Smother with baKing soda or salt, cover with the lid to the pot or use a dry chemical fire extinguisher. The combustion of oleic acid (the major portion of corn oil and olive oil) 1S: