Description of experiment
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Needed compounds:
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acetone : CH3 CO CH3
magnesium perchlorate : Mg(ClO4)2
Class:
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elem=C,Mg,Cl
organic
redox
Summary:
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Anhydrous magnesium perchlorate dissolves in acetone easily, giving a colorless
solution. Some heat is produced when the magnesium perchlorate dissolves, but
it is not much. The resulting solution does not conduct electricity. When just
a few drops of water are added to the solution, then it becomes conducting.
Description:
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Add half a gram of anhydrous magnesium perchlorate to 5 ml of dry acetone: The
solid quickly dissolves when the liquid is swirled. Some heat is produced, the
liquid becomes luke-warm. When all of the solid has dissolved, a clear and
colorless liquid is obtained, which simply smells of acetone.
Connect two platinum wires to a 13.8 V power supply through a 4.7 Ohm power
resistor and dip the platinum wires in the solution: Hardly any current flows
through the liquid. With a sensitive ampere meter, around 100 uA of current
could be measured.
Add a few drops of distilled water to the liquid, while the electrodes still
are in the acetone: Immediately, the current increases to 250 mA and bubbles of
gas are produced at the platinum wires. The amount of gas, produced at the
anode is larger than the amount of gas, produced at the cathode. Apparently the
acetone is reduced at the cathode (isopropyl alcohol could be formed).
Add a little bit more water: The current increases a little bit more, but it
does not exceed 300 mA.