Science made alive: Chemistry/Experiments

Experiments with carbon or its compounds

	element	required compound	link to experiment
*	C, Ag	AgNO₃ HNO₃ (dilute) CaC₂ ("carbide")	Preparation of a high explosive . Acetylene gas is bubbled through an acidic solution of silver nitrate. Silver acetylide is formed under these conditions.
*	C, B	H₃BO₃ CH₃OH CH₃CH₂OH	Green fire . Methanol, or ethanol, in which some boric acid is dissolved, burns with a bright green flame.
*	C, Cl	Cl₂ CaC₂ ("carbide")	Violent 'combustion' of acetylene in chlorine gas, explosions without need of supplying heat . Acetylene gas is bubbled into chlorine and this leads to violent explosions.
*	C, H	different chemicals for each of the different experiments	Color of the flame of burning gases. Many different gases are ignited and the flame color is watched. Many of these gases are compounds of carbon.
	C, N	CH₃OH NaNO₂ (or KNO₂) HCl (10%)	A fast and complete formation of an inorganic ester. Methyl nitrite is prepared in this experiment and simply is isolated, because it bubbles out of solution.
*	C, Ca	CaCl₂ NaHCO₃	Explanation of what happens when hard water is heated. This experiment is a nice and safe demonstration and explanation of what happens when hard water is boiled.
*	C, N	HNO₃ (≥ 60 %) H₂SO₄ (concentrated) NaHCO₃ cellulose wadding	Nitration of a piece of cellulose wadding . A classical experiment, in which common white cellulose wadding is nitrated. The nitrated wadding quickly burns without smoke and without leaving any residue/ashes.
	physical	CH₃CH₂OH CH₃OH H₃BO₃	Near-explosions of alcohol/air mixes in confined spaces. Alcohol vapor is ignited in flasks with long necks and long tubes.
*	organic	HClO₄ NH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂ NaHCO₃	Violent decomposition of an organic perchlorate salt. A perchlorate salt of a basic organic amine is prepared and it is shown how this salt decomposes violently when it is ignited.
*	organic	HCOOH CH₃COOH NaOH	Precision electrolysis of acetate and formiate. Acetate and formiate are electrolysed and based on the observations in this experiment, the net reactions are derived. A demonstration of what can be achieved with a combination of careful observation and reasoning.
	organic	CH₃NO₂ NaOH	Violent reaction between nitromethane and sodium hydroxide. Nitromethane and sodium hydroxide are mixed. After a short induction time, a very violent reaction starts.
*	organic	red cabbage HCl (dilute, few percent) CH₃COOH (dilute) dish washing soap NH₃ (5%) Na₂CO₃ (or NaOH)	Fun with red cabbage. Red cabbage juice is treated with solutions of different pH. Surprising colors can be obtained in this way, much more than the well-known pink/rose to violet/blue colors, which one knows from the kitchen.
	organic	CH₃COCH₃ styrofoam	Collapsing styrofoam. Acetone is sprinkled on a piece of styrofoam. The styrofoam literally collapses.
*	organic Cu	CuI KI C₅H₅N CH₃COCH₃	A fluorescent compound of copper. This is an experiment, which is not well known. The effect demonstrated in this experiment, however, is striking and it is a shame that so few people know it. A white compound is prepared which exhibits beautiful bright yellow fluorescence under black-light.
*	organic Cu	CuCO₃·Cu(OH)₂ CH₃COOH CH₂ClCOOH CCl₃COOH HCOOH CH₃CH₂COOH CH₃C(OH)HCOOH	Inductive effect demonstrated by properties of copper acetate and related complexes. In this experiment, copper acetate, but also several substituted and related compounds are prepared. Their properties are compared and a good explanation can be given by the inductive effect.
*	organic	phthalic anhydride m-C₆H₄(OH)₂ (resorcinol) H₂SO₄ (concentrated) NaOH	Beautiful green fluorescence -- synthesis of fluorescein. A strongly fluorescent compound is made and with a UV-LED the strong fluorescence is demonstrated in a spectacular way.
*	organic	C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ (plain sugar) H₂SO₄ (concentrated)	Dehydration and oxidation of sugar by concentrated sulphuric acid. This is a spectacular experiment, in which sugar is charred by concentrated sulphuric acid and a lot of black foam, smoke and noise is produced.

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