Explosive experiment

    This week I want to introduce something sensational and explosive~

The first experiment is the chemical volcano. Literally, it is a experiment that have a volcano-like product. Let’s check out the video first:

 

  The reaction is the heat decomposition of ammonium dichromate [(NH₄)₂Cr₂O₇], and during the decomposition, it will produce lots of ashy Cr₂O₃ and accumulate into a mountain. The total reaction equation is (NH₄)₂Cr₂O₇ → Cr₂O₃ + 4 H₂O + N₂

  

  Another similar reaction is the Pharaoh’s serpent (法老之蛇). It is the decomposition of Mercury(II) thiocyanate, while in this reaction, the decomposed product resembling a snake rather than a volcano.

The reaction can be described as below:

2Hg(SCN)₂ → 2HgS + CS₂ + C₃N₄

HgS + O₂ → Hg + SO₂

2C₃N₄ → 3(CN)₂ + N₂

CS₂ + 3O₂ → CO₂ + 2SO₂

Here’s the video:

*Warning: the experiment would be a little bit disgusting…

   Last one will be the experiment of dehydration of carbohydrate. Simply, the “de”hydration of carbo”hydrate” will produce “carbon”! Sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) is often used as a strong dehydrating agent, so we can see black carbon forms after we mix the sugar (carbohydrate, C₆H₁₂O₆) with sulfuric acid. The reaction equation is C₆H₁₂O₆ → 6C + 6H₂O

Here’s the video:

Reference:

1.      http://chemistry.about.com/cs/demonstrations/a/aa033003a.htm

2.      http://chemistry.about.com/od/fireworksprojects/a/pharaohs-snakes.htm