Sub-category Demo Name Brief Description Demo Notes Demo # Type of Item
Decomposition reactions Decomposition of Ammonium dichromate Not available - may be able to do in a hood, outside, or tape demo for use in class. outside or real hood since carcinogenic 83.x Demonstration
Displacement reactions and Activity Series Reaction of alkali metals with water Na, K in water.  Reaction rate increases as you go down the period. Also on video: Close up on Chemistry Ealy 2:40 (5:57 min),  Media Guild Periodic Table near beginning 5 Demonstration
Displacement reactions and Activity Series Displacement of Tin by zinc (Spongy tin) pieces of zinc dropped into acidic tin chloride cause tin to float to the top of the solution   12 Demonstration
Displacement reactions and Activity Series Disappearing aluminum rod rolled up aluminum foil gets shorter and shorter in a beaker containing copper chloride CuCl2 solution   13 Demonstration
Displacement reactions and Activity Series Zn, Mg, or Fe in HCl or H2SO4 - evolves H2 gas.   Add Zn granuals to a large graduated cylinder of HCl or H2SO4 to see the formation of hydrogen gas bubbles.   Will cause balloon to stand up, but not expand much.  Can do in a small cylinder and see a lighted splint go out with a pop. 70 Demonstration
Displacement reactions and Activity Series Activation series for some metals Metals are placed in a Petri dish with acid on the overhead projector to observe the evolution of gas at different rates.   72 Demonstration
Displacement reactions and Activity Series zinc in copper sulfate-copper precipitates out A zinc strip turns black (the black will slack off in enough accumulates) and the solution goes from blue to clear-this takes some time.   91 Demonstration
Displacement reactions and Activity Series Tricks with Acids: Hollow penny, Copper dime, Copper quarter  cut coins are soaked in acids.  The penny loses its zinc core, the dime loses the outer silvery coating as does the quarter. cleaning copper, electroplating 114 Demonstration
Displacement reactions and Activity Series Displacement of iodide by bromide ions Not available - may be able to do in a hood, outside, or tape demo for use in class. risk of bromine release 10.x Demonstration
Displacement reactions and Activity Series Reaction of alkali metals with water Reaction rate increases as you go down the period. Close up on Chemistry Ealy 2:40 (5:57 min.  Set timer to zero when first text rolls on screen.) M1 Movie
Metathesis or Double-Displacement Reactions Double displacement reactions (metathesis) Of two solids or  liquids.  Lead nitrate and K iodide crystals in tube or plate.  The white crystals produce yellow PbI2   35 Demonstration
Metathesis or Double-Displacement Reactions Precipitation reactions various 2 clear solutions are mixed to give different colored precipitates.  K2CrO4 + Pb(NO3)2 for yellow, (NH4)2CO3 + CaCl2 for white.  The barium hydroxide/sulfuric acid ppt can be used with phenolphthalene to show an acid/base ppt. Very popular-The potassium chromate, lead nitrate reaction gives a thick yellow ppt.    (Also see #2 for limiting reactant using ppt) 71 Demonstration
Redox Reactions Reaction of alkali metals with water Na, K in water.  Reaction rate increases as you go down the period. Also on video: Close up on Chemistry Ealy 2:40 (5:57 min),  Media Guild Periodic Table near beginning 5 Demonstration
Redox Reactions Displacement of Tin by zinc (Spongy tin) pieces of zinc dropped into acidic tin chloride cause tin to float to the top of the solution   12 Demonstration
Redox Reactions Disappearing aluminum rod rolled up aluminum foil gets shorter and shorter in a beaker containing copper chloride CuCl2 solution   13 Demonstration
Redox Reactions Reaction of sugar/potassium chlorate. This is better done outside.  It can be used to spell out letters in fire on pavement at a school circus.   Sulfuric acid starts the reaction.  Also see gummy bears #24.  Also on Close up on Chemistry Ealy 22:10 (2:11 min) 22 Demonstration
Redox Reactions Torching gummy bears The potassium chlorate is melted in a tube, and the gummy bear dances and growls as it is consumed by its combustion, sparks shoot inside the tube and it is bright in the room.  Do outside if the room is small. A very popular demo for sacrificing for football or test success.   24 Demonstration
Redox Reactions Blue bottle experiment, traffic light experiment dextrose experiments only Also on Shakhashiri tape 2 #34; Close up on Chemistry Ealy 58:54 (3:28 min) 39 Demonstration
Redox Reactions Oxidation states of vanadium-yellow, blue, aqua, violet A solution of vanadium is poured into a flask containing zinc amalgam.  Shaking various lengths of time causes the progressive color changes, which can be seen in a petri dish on an overhead projector Popular.  Also on Close up on Chemistry Ealy 8:37 (4 min)  (Set timer to zero when first text rolls on screen.) 45 Demonstration
Redox Reactions Oxidation of zinc Not available - may be able to do in a hood, outside, or tape demo for use in class. real hood only 46 Demonstration
Redox Reactions Precipitates and complexes of nickel green, cloudy blue, aqua, royal blue, dark blue, purple, red popular-it is neat to see so many colors of nickel complexes.  Also on Shakashiri tape 1 #20 47 Demonstration
Redox Reactions Simple battery:  Gerber cell Cu, Mg,CuSO4, Nasulfate.  This uses beakers and dialysis tubing to set up a working battery. 3 days preparation 54 Demonstration
Redox Reactions Copper into gold (alloys) Cu, Zn, NaOH: Cu coated with Zinc to brass really.  Copper pennies are heated in base over a burner.  After rinsing, they look silver (which would fade with time), then when passed through the flame they look gold (which is permanent).   With advance warning, coins can be made to be given as "awards".  Also on Shakhashiri Tape 1 #11 59 Demonstration
Redox Reactions Tyndal effect-chemical sunset on overhead projector Na thiosulfate and HCl; disproportionation.  Can be tricky.  A cardboard sheet containing a small hole is placed on the overhead projector.  A solution is added to beaker containing a different solution which changes the color of the light projected to resemble a sun set.   65 Demonstration
Redox Reactions Green and blue copper complexes   Also on Shakhashiri tape I #13  CuSO4, KOH, HCl, AmOH:blue, green, deep blue layer; Ammonia complex ions, copper, cobalt; other complexes-silver.  Acid, then base are layered over a solution of copper, yielding the color layers; Copper or cobalt are reacted with ammonia to give colored complexes, copper, cobalt complexes (with acetone, acid, silver nitrate, sodium nitrate, ammonia 79 Demonstration
Redox Reactions Metal trees Cu wire, 2% AgNO3 on overhead, silver needles form on a copper wire.  Also a fast reaction with battery-silver plating onto copper This is fragile and takes some time.  See # 163 for other crystals.  Also on Shakhashiri Tape 1 #10 84 Demonstration
Redox Reactions Mercury beating heart Hg, K2CrO4, H2SO4, iron wire on overhead projector.  A little tricky, but you can get a drop of mercury to pulsate by adding the other solutions.   Also, gallium beating heart. 97 Demonstration
Redox Reactions Oxidation States of Manganese KMnO4; spontaneous redox with KI and KMnO4.  Big beakers of potassium permanganate are provided.  When you add the additional reagents, you get various colors in the beakers. popular 111 Demonstration
Redox Reactions blueprints, photographs     171 Demonstration
Redox Reactions Spontaneous combustion of white phosphorus, barking dog Not available - may be able to do in a hood, outside, or tape demo for use in class. white phosphorous explodes in air, it and the products are poisonous.  On Close up on Chemistry Ealy 1:02:22 (2:06 min)  (Ealy set timer to zero when first line of text scrolls onto screen) 15.x Demonstration
Redox Reactions Oxidation of glycerin by permanganate (Instant fire/delayed fire) Not available - may be able to do in a hood, outside, or tape demo for use in class. Outside.  Shakhashiri Tape 2 #24; Close up on Chemistry Ealy 24:21 (2:15)   (Ealy set timer to zero when first line of text scrolls onto screen) 23.x Demonstration
Redox Reactions Thermite reaction Not available - may be able to do in a hood, outside, or tape demo for use in class. Outside.  On Shakhashiri Tape 2 #25 25.x Demonstration
Redox Reactions Reaction of alkali metals with water Reaction rate increases as you go down the period. Close up on Chemistry Ealy 2:40 (5:57 min.  Set timer to zero when first text rolls on screen.) M1 Movie
Redox Reactions Blue bottle experiment, traffic light experiment dextrose experiments only Shakhashiri tape 2 #34 M13 Movie
Redox Reactions Blue bottle experiment, traffic light experiment dextrose experiments only Close up on Chemistry Ealy 58:54 (3:28 min)  (Set timer to zero when first text rolls on screen.) M14 Movie
Redox Reactions Oxidation states of vanadium-yellow, blue, aqua, violet A solution of vanadium is poured into a flask containing zinc amalgam.  Shaking various lengths of time causes the progressive color changes, which can be seen in a petri dish on an overhead projector Close up on Chemistry Ealy 8:37 (4 min)  (Set timer to zero when first text rolls on screen.) M18 Movie
Redox Reactions Precipitates and complexes of nickel green, cloudy blue, aqua, royal blue, dark blue, purple, red Shakashiri tape 1 #20 M19 Movie
Redox Reactions Copper into gold (alloys) Cu, Zn, NaOH: Cu coated with Zinc to brass really.  Copper pennies are heated in base over a burner.  After rinsing, they look silver (which would fade with time), then when passed through the flame they look gold (which is permanent).   Shakhashiri Tape 1 #11 M24 Movie
Redox Reactions Green and blue copper complexes   Shakhashiri tape I #13  CuSO4, KOH, HCl, AmOH:blue, green, deep blue layer; Ammonia complex ions, copper, cobalt; other complexes-silver.  Acid, then base are layered over a solution of copper, yielding the color layers; Copper or cobalt are reacted with ammonia to give colored complexes, copper, cobalt complexes (with acetone, acid, silver nitrate, sodium nitrate, ammonia M28 Movie
Redox Reactions Reaction of sugar/potassium chlorate. Sulfuric acid starts the reaction. Close up on Chemistry Ealy 22:10 (2:11 min) (Set timer to zero when first text rolls on screen.) M5 Movie
Redox Reactions Oxidation of glycerin by permanganate (Instant fire/delayed fire)   Shakhashiri Tape 2 #24; Close up on Chemistry Ealy 24:21 (2:15)   (Ealy set timer to zero when first line of text scrolls onto screen) M52 Movie
Redox Reactions Thermite reaction   Shakhashiri Tape 2 #25 M53 Movies
  Reaction of aluminum and bromine Not available - may be able to do in a hood, outside, or tape demo for use in class. risk of bromine gas release 06. X Demonstration
  Reaction of sodium and chlorine Not available - may be able to do in a hood, outside, or tape demo for use in class. risk of chlorine gas release 07.x Demonstration
  Combustion of a cigarette Dr. Jones only.  He holds oxygen hose pinched closed and away after taking in some to his lungs.  He breathes out to a lighted cigarette, which flares instead of slow burning.   105.x Demonstration
  Spontaneous combustion of white phosphorus, barking dog   Close up on Chemistry Ealy 1:02:22 (2:06 min)  (Ealy set timer to zero when first line of text scrolls onto screen) M50 Movie