Hello guys, my chemistry course in university is holding a project in which one could do any experiment they want, as long it is safe. (of course, you
have to write up a fairly comprehensive lab report)
They are providing all the chemicals and equipment you need. They are so many choices.. I am like a kid in a candy store, everything looks delicious.
Can someone give some cool experiment I can try?
Of course, it has to be on par with my level. I am a first year science freshman. I also need to be write up a pretty good lab report for it. It also
has to be pretty cool (yeah, cool is different for everyone but as long you think is cool, is a good choice) and safe (no explosive, biochemical
weapons etc..) Can anyone provide some suggestions? Thanks alot.
Oh, I only get 2 hrs to do my experiment... so there is a time limit factor too.
[Edited on 21-1-2008 by p3t3r1]microcosmicus - 21-1-2008 at 12:29
Maybe an oscillating reaction?Ozone - 21-1-2008 at 12:38
My recent conversation on another thread which involved carbohydrates made me think of this reaction:
[Edite le 21-1-2008 par Sobrero]microcosmicus - 21-1-2008 at 13:27
Of course, anything from that website would qualify as a cool experiment
because woelen is a cool guy
Along those lines, there's also making singlet oxygen. Pretty easy to
do (Cl2 + H2O2) but not only cool to watch the glow, but cool for deeper
reasons --- nice little bit of quantum mechanics.
[Edited on 21-1-2008 by microcosmicus]Ozone - 21-1-2008 at 21:25
The blue bottle "oscillates" when O2 is introduced to solution by shaking. This allows for, say, "punctuation" when explaining the experiment.
Cheers,
O3mrjeffy321 - 22-1-2008 at 11:27
As long as you are not paying for the chemicals, maybe do something with precious-metal solutions (Pt, Au, …)….but I doubt the teacher will
appreciate the suggestion very much.
But seriously, I would choose a reaction I would not ordinarily be able to do on an amateur scale, something which involves chemicals / apparati which
are too expensive, rare, difficult, …, to acquire for an individual but you would have access to through the university.ScienceGeek - 22-1-2008 at 13:05
Quote:
Originally posted by Ozone
Cheap, easy to do, striking in demonstration format...and...as theoretically intensive as you care to make it (REDOX, dyes, carbohydrates, etc.).
[Edited on 21-1-2008 by Ozone]
The fact that it's a carbohydrate doesn't matter. It is the fact that it's an aldehyde that counts, as an aldehyde has reducing properties The_Davster - 22-1-2008 at 21:27
Always amuses me, just use pure tin wire as opposed to the alloy I used, it will simplify your report greatly.
Anything with electrochem is always fun.
If its their equipment, I have always wanted to try a microscale arkel-de-boer zirconium purification, but the amperages involved may qualify it as
'dangerous'.
Originally posted by microcosmicus
those lines, there's also making singlet oxygen. Pretty easy to
do (Cl2 + H2O2) but not only cool to watch the glow, but cool for deeper
reasons --- nice little bit of quantum mechanics.
It can be done even easier. Just pouring some 30% H2O2 over crushed swimming pool chlorine tablets or granules. It works with calcium hypochlorite,
but also with the organic 'chlorine' like TCCA or Na-DCCA.
