Lecture Demonstration List

The following lecture demonstrations are available from Chemistry & Biochemistry Undergraduate Teaching Laboratories, York 3150.

There are also videos available for use in lectures. For a list of what is available go to Videos.

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Chemistry & Biochemistry Instructors may schedule the materials needed for a class by contacting Peter Wotruba and Steve Smith by electronic mail.

A Minimum of TWO (2) DAYS ADVANCED NOTICE is required.
If something not on this list is requested, more advance notice will likely be needed.

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Instructions for performing the demonstrations will accompany the chemicals and glassware that are delivered to your classroom.

1. Combustion of Hydrogen Procedure

Balloons are filled with hydrogen gas, attached to a clamp holder by a string, and ignited with a match taped to a yard stick. Suggested Atkins chapters: 1-6

2. Charles' Law Procedure

Balloons are filled with oxygen and helium and show a decrease in volume when immersed in liquid nitrogen. Suggested Atkins chapters: 5

3. Colors of Nickel Coordination Complexes Procedure

A green, aqueous solution of nickel nitrate becomes deep blue on addition of ammonia, purple on addition of ethylene diamine, red on addition of dimethylgyloxime, finally yellow on addition of KCN. Suggested Atkins chapters: 13, 15, 21

4. Equilibrium between Nitrogen Dioxide and Dinitrogen Tetroxide, Le Chatelier's Principle Procedure

Sealed glass tubes containing reddish-brown nitrogen dioxide are placed in hot water and on dry ice and become darker brown or colorless, respectively. Suggested Atkins chapters: 5, 13

5. Colors of Cobalt Complexes Procedure

A pink, aqueous solution of cobalt(II) hexahydrate becomes dark blue when concentrated HCl is added, then pink when diluted with more water. Color projects best on an overhead projector. Suggested Atkins chapters: 13, 15, 21

6. Ionization of Sodium Metal Procedure

A small pellet of sodium is dropped into a glass dish of phenolphthalein solution on top of an overhead projector. Red trails are produced as the sodium travels across the dish. Can do lithium and potassium to demonstrate increasing reactivity. Suggested Atkins chapters: 3, 14, 19

7. Oxidation States of Vanadium (V⁵⁺ --> V²⁺) Procedure

A flask containing a yellow solution of ammonium vanadate is poured into a flask containing zinc amalgam. With shaking, solution turns yellow to green to blue to purple. Vanadium can be reoxidized with cerium sulfate. Colors project well in petri dishes on an overhead projector. Suggested Atkins chapters: 3, 21

8. Lecture Room Size pH Meter Procedure

An analog meter with a 30-cm scale is connected through an amplifier to a pH meter and a glass electrode. Suggested Atkins chapters: 4, 14

9. Lecture Room Size Voltmeter and Thermometer Voltmeter, Temperature, Voltmeter with Bologna

The same large meter can be used as a voltmeter for electrochemistry and as a thermometer for thermochemistry demonstrations. The two voltmeter demos offered are potential differences between Zn, Cu and Pb, and using bologna as a salt bridge. Suggested Atkins chapters: 6, 17

10. Endo- and Exothermic Reactions Procedure

Hot and cold packs are passed around the class. Students can note the temperature change. Suggested Atkins chapters: 6

11. Briggs-Rauscher Oscillating Reaction  Procedure

Mix equal volumes of prepared solutions on a stir plate, solution oscillates between dark blue and clear/yellow. Last about 15 minutes. Suggested Atkins chapters: 3, 13

12. Hydrogen Bonding in Slime; Procedure

A polyvinyl alcohol solution mixed with a sodium tetraborate solution and food coloring produces a colored polymer that flows and can be shaped; it will sheer if twisted quickly. Suggested Atkins chapters: 10, 11

13. The Classic Belousov-Zhabotinsky Oscillating Reaction Procedure

Equal volumes of prepared solutions, mixed on a stir plate with ferroin indicator, give a solution that oscillates from green to violet to red to blue and back to green. Lasts about 30 minutes. Suggested Atkins chapters: 3, 13

14. A Variation of the Belousov-Zhabotinsky Oscillating Reaction Procedure

Three premeasured solutions are mixed, stirred until the bromine color disappears, and ferroin indicator is added. The solution is poured into a petri dish on an overhead projector to cover the bottom with a thin (~1-mm) layer. Oscillations will start. Refer to the March 30, 1987 issue of C&E News for the original article. Suggested Atkins chapters: 3, 13

15. Burning Magnesium in Dry Ice Procedure

Magnesium filings are pour into a cavity in a dry ice block and lit with a hand held torch. Another dry ice block with an identical cavity covers the burning magnesium. Dim the lights and the class can see the Mg burn between the dry ice blocks. Suggested Atkins chapters: 3, 6, 19

16. Light Sticks Procedure

Cyalume light sticks can be used to demonstrate how temperature affects reaction rate. Put one light stick in hot water and one in ice water. Dim lights and compare luminescence with room temperature light stick. Suggested Atkins chapters: 18

17. Blue Bottle Reaction Procedure

A basic glucose solution with methylene blue as a redox indicator turns blue when shaken, then reverts to clear on standing. Repeats through 15 shakes. Suggested Atkins chapters: 3, 13

18. Catalytic Decomposition of Peroxide Procedure

Hydrogen peroxide is catalytically decomposed with KI. A drop of soap is added before the KI so the oxygen released during decomposition produces foam. Suggested Atkins chapters: 3, 18, 20

19. Levitation Demonstrates Superconductivity Procedure

Demonstrates the Meissner effect, where a magnet will float above a material in a super-conducting state. Suggested Atkins chapters: 10

20. Molecular Motion Demonstrator Procedure

Reproduces molecular behavior in gases, liquids and solids using small balls on an overhead projector. Turns abstract Kinetic Theory concepts into visual images, easily understood. Suggested Atkins chapters: 5

21. Spectroscopy in Large Lecture Halls Procedure

Shows the color spectra of white light and the spectral lines of neon.  Diffraction gratings (~1in²) are passed out to the class, room lights are dimmed, and the class views light from an incandescent light and a neon discharge tube. Suggested Atkins chapters: 7

22. Combustion of Acetylene Procedure

Acetylene is generated with calcium carbide and HCl and ignited with bleach. Generates an explosion with flameball. Suggested Atkins chapters: 3, 6, 11, 19

23. Thermite Procedure

Ferric oxide and aluminum powder are ignited with an Mg fuse in clay flower pots. Molten iron drops from the pots into a dish of sand. Suggested Atkins chapters: 3, 6, 19, 21

24. Acidity Change of Dry Ice in Water Procedure

Show acidity changes using universal indicator, dilute NaOH, and dry ice; pH changes as CO₂ dissolves in water to form carbonic acid and sodium carbonate. Explain buffer solutions as the color change slows. Suggested Atkins chapters: 14, 15

25. Precipitation Reactions Procedure 

One liquid is added dropwise to another, forms a precipitate. Can be done with precipitates of different colors. Views nicely on the overhead projector using large well plates, but the color of the precipatates doesn't project. Large flasks show colored precipatates well for large lecture halls. Suggested Atkins chapters: 3, 15

26. Ionic vs. Covalent Bonding as Measured by Electrical Conductivity Procedure

Check solutions and solids for conductivity using an apparatus that includes an incandescent lamp and an inert gas lamp in the circuit. Salts, sugars, weak and strong acids and bases all make good materials to check. When barium hydroxide solution is titrated with sulfuric acid, barium sulfate precipatates, and the lightbulb dims and then goes out. Suggested Atkins chapters: 3

27. Density Procedure

Using a large container of ice water, a can of Pepsi (or Coke) sinks while a can of Diet Pepsi (or Diet Coke). Suggested Atkins chapters: 2

28. Boyle's Law Procedure

An apparatus for the overhead projector includes a viewable pressure gauge attached to a large syringe; allows investigation of the relationship between pressure and volume. Suggested Atkins chapters: 5

29. Molecular Shapes & Odors Procedure

This demonstration, generally used in the organic chemistry courses, associates shapes of molecules with odors. Suggested Atkins chapters: 11

30. Luminol Procedure

Two solutions mix together to produce a fluorescent yellow glow that can be seen when the room lights are off. Potassium ferricyanide crystals added to the mixture increase the intensity. Suggested Atkins chapters: 20

31. Carbon Snake Procedure

In this demonstration, concentrated sulfuric acid is mixed with sucrose, producing a column of carbon which grows out of the beaker. Suggested Atkins chapters: 20

32. Ice Bomb Procedure

Demonstrates the expansion of the water when it freeze; a cast-iron ice bomb is filled with ice water, closed, then placed in an ethanol/dry ice bath, which is then covered. Expansion of the water ruptures the bomb and causes several pieces of shrapnel to hit the cover.  Suggested Atkins chapters: 10

33. Nassau Reaction Procedure

This 'Halloween Demo' occurs when equal amounts of three solutions are added together. The solution turns bright orange, then suddenly turns dark blue. (Or pour half of the third solution into the mixture and wait till a nice orange color develops before adding the remainder of that solution.) Large flask with Jack-o-lantern face is available for Halloween lectures. Suggested Atkins chapters: 3, 18, 20

34. Silane Procedure

Heating silica and magnesium powder together produces silane; putting the silane compound in weak hydrochloric acid causes small fires Suggested Atkins chapters: 6, 9, 19

35. Lead Iodide Crystals Procedure

The solubility of lead iodide is about 10 times greater in hot water than in room temperature water. Dissolving lead iodide in boiling water and then letting it cool down slowly (or fast by using ice) causes the golden lead iodide crystals to form and float down to the bottom of the flask. Suggested Atkins chapters: 12, 15

36. Aluminum - Copper Tradeoff Procedure

A tall graduated cylinder of green-blue copper chloride solution and a strip of aluminum react to produce changes in colors and temperature, with the formation of a solid. Suggested Atkins chapters: 3, 13, 21

37. Effects of pH on Solubility Procedure

Using a ferric nitrate solution, this demo illustrates how pH affects solubility. A precipitate forms when ammonium hydroxide is added to the test tube (when the pH reaches ~10). Then the prcipitate redissolves when hydrochloric acid is added (pH < 6). Suggested Atkins chapters: 12, 15

38. Reichardt's Dye Procedure

This demo shows the dramatic affect that solvent polarity can have on absorption wavelength. In a relatively non-polar solvent such as acetone, Reichardt's dye is green; as the solvent is made more polar by the addition of water, it becomes blue, purple, magenta, red and finally orange. This can be shown quite clearly on an overhead projector. Suggested Atkins chapters: 9

39. Gas Creation Procedure

This demo shows how combining a liquid (dilute hydrochloric acid) and a solid (calcium carbonate) can generate a gas; a rubber stopper is placed on the test tube, and the tube is shaken to combine the liquid and powder. The resultant carbon dioxide gas causes the rubber stopper to fly about 10 feet. Suggested Atkins chapters: 3, 5, 19

40. Tyndall Effect Procedure

Using a flat-sided fish bowl and a flashlight, the effects of turbidity are shown. When only water is in the bowl, a beam of light will be virtually invisible where it passes through the bowl, and bright white where it emerges. When a thiosulfate solution is added, the turbidity increases, and the beam will be visible where it passes through the mixture. That beam will appear blue, while the light emerging from the bowl appears orange. Suggested Atkins chapters: 12

41. Oxidation States of Copper Procedure

This demo shows the differing colors of copper. A solution is taken from the light blue of copper sulfate, to dark blue of Cu(II)(NH₃)₅ complex ion, to a colorless solution of copper(I), to finally precipitating out the reddish copper metal. Suggested Atkins chapters: 3, 21

42. Super-saturated Sodium Acetate Solution Procedure

A super-saturated solution of sodium acetate is made and cooled overnight. Once cooled, a tiny amount of sodium acetate is added to the solution. The entire solution then crystalizes within a few seconds. Suggested Atkins chapters: 12, 15

43. Reaction of Potassium Chlorate and Sucrose Procedure

A mixture of potassium chlorate and sucrose is placed on a watchglass with a drop of sulfuric acid. This causes a reaction which starts slowly, but then bursts into flames, and creates lots of smoke. Suggested Atkins chapters: 3, 6, 20

44. Reaction of Sodium and Chlorine Procedure

Chlorine gas is generated by a combination of bleach and hydrochloric acid. This gas then reacts with sodium metal causing it to burn with a bright yellow flame. Suggested Atkins chapters: 3, 14, 19, 20

45. Endothermic Reactions of Hydrated Barium Hydroxide Procedure

Barium hydroxide and ammonium chloride are mixed in an Erlenmeyer flask. A small wet wooden block placed on the flask will freeze to the flask. Suggested Atkins chapters: 6

46. Iodine Clock Procedure

Two solutions are mixed together and in a few seconds the solution turns from pale yellow to dark blue. Varying the amounts of the solutions gives diffferent times before the change occurs. Suggested Atkins chapters: 3, 18, 20

47. Demonstrating Molecular Structure with BBs Procedure

Sealed plastic petri dishes with varying numbers of BBs inside are used to demonstrate many of the microscopic differences among gases, liquids, and solids. Suggested Atkins chapters: 5

48. The Nonburning Towel Procedure

An ordinary cotton towel is immersed in a solution of alcohol and water and lighted over a burner. A blue flame surrounds the towel as the alcohol burns without burning the towel.  Suggested Atkins chapters: 6

49. Heat of Solution of Lithium Chloride Procedure

A lecture-sized temperature meter is used to show the exothermic reaction of adding lithium chloride to a beaker of water. Suggested Atkins chapters: 6, 12, 16

50. Nylon Procedure

A film of nylon is formed at the interface between two immiscible liquids. When the film is lifted from the container, it is continually replaced forming a hollow thread of polymer. Suggested Atkins chapters:

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