Novel Coronavirus Disease Symptoms and Treatments

Now a days, the entire world is focused on a new pandemic called coronavirus disease (Covid-19). Even though the virus is already familiar to the scientific world, the strain of the virus is novel.  Here we concentrate on some of the important details of coronavirus.

What is virus?

A virus is a microscopic organism that a can infect other living cells including human and animals , there by causing disease. The word virus is originated from the Latin word referring to "poison" and other noxious liquids. It was discovered by Dmitri Ivanosky  in 1892which was tobacco mosaic virus affect tobacco plants. The major character of a virus is it can make copies of itself inside the living cell by interfering the genetic material of the affected cell.

What is a "Corona Virus"?

Corona virus are a group of viruses that can cause decease in mammals and birds. In humans it affect respiratory tract infections that ranges from mild illness like common could  to deadly verities including SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), MERS  (Middle east Respiratory Syndrome) and the novel covid-19

 The characteristic club shaped spike that project  from their surface resembles to solar corona from which its name is originated. The word "CORONA" is Latin in origin meaning "crown or wreath". The average diameter of a virus particle is 120nm (12 micrometer ).

Human Corona Virus (HCV)

Corona virus were first discovered in 1930's in animals while HCV were discovered in 2003's (SARS).  The source of HCV is still unknown suspecting and animal origin. The virus has 96% similarity to bat corona virus. So it is suspected to originated from bats. Six species of HCV are known including the following.

SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) :-  In 2003 SARS were reported in Asia. More than 8,000 people were infected and 10% of whom died.

MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) :- It was reported on September 2012. Initially called novel covid-12 later renamed as MERS.

COVID-19 (SARS-COVID-II) :-  In December 2019, the reporting of  a pneumonia out break in Wuhan,China turned to the discovery of a novel strain of corona virus,2019-novel corona virus,later named as SARS-COVID-2. Up to 16 April 2020, around  134780 death and  2089237 confirmed cases on corona virus pandemic.

Symptoms of Corona virus disease (Covid-19 )

Common symptoms :

• Fever 
• Tiredness
• Dry cough

Other symptoms :

• Aches and pains
• Nasal Congestion
• Running nose
• Sore throat
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty in breathing.

Usually this symptoms are mild  and then gradually increases. Some of the infected people don't express any of the above symptoms and don't feel illness. About 80% of the affected people can recover from the disease without the help of any special treatment. Out of the 6 people who gets covid-19 one become serious.Their is a possibility to develop serious illness in aged people and those suffering with high blood pleasure, heart problems or diabetes. 
 

Corona virus treatment.

     There is no specific medicines to prevent or treat the novel corona virus. About 80% of the affected people can recover from the disease without the help of any special treatment. Always prevention is better than cure.
     Some specific treatments are under investigation. Any vaccine for the corona virus should focus on the antigenic virus spike protein, look like a crown.

                            

                             

Purple Haze experiment II Glamorous purple smoke from iodine and aluminium

It is the most glamorous science experiment ever. Here aluminium and iodine interact with each other to form a purple colored sparkling and a smoking volcano is produced

Reagents and Equipment.

• Aluminium shavings
• Crystal iodine 
• Porcelain cup
• Tweezers 

Procedure.

Step 1 : Mix the aluminium shavings and the crystal iodine in a porcelain cup.

Step 2 : Add a little water to the cup. Observe the formation of sparks and the release of purple                         smoke.

Process

        The mixture of aluminium and iodine doesn't react it self. Because aluminium is covered with an oxide layer, which protect it from chemical reactions. Here water act as the initiator. 

        Upon adding water, iodine devolves in water forming hydroiodic and hypoiodous acids. This acids can dissolve oxide layer form the surface of aluminium. Then aluminium react with iodine, with the formation of aluminium iodide. This reaction takes place with the release of thick purple smoke and bright glamorous sparks!

          It is and exothermic reaction. the heat liberated  warms the crystal iodine and it sublimates forming purple vapours.

Chemical "reef" experiment or Growing a chemical "reef" using diffusion

It is a interesting science experiment based on the phenomenon diffusion. Three different salt dissolve in water and their ions intermix to form new colored salts, the combination resembles a chemical reef.

Chemical reef

 

Reagents and equipment

• Glass container
• 100 ml distilled water 
• 2 g copper(II) sulfate.
• 2 g potassium hexacyanoferrate(II)
• 2 g ammonium iron(III) sulfate

Procedure

•  Pour 100 ml distilled water into a glass container.
• Add 2 g copper(II) sulfate, 2 g potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) and 2 g ammonium iron(III) sulfate
•  After sometime, colorful precipitates resembling reef will produce.

Process

In water,  2 g copper(II) sulfate, 2 g potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) and 2 g ammonium iron(III)  sulfate dissolve and dissociate into irons. This irons diffuse through the entire solution. These salt ions eventually collide with each other forming colorful, insoluble compounds. When potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) and copper (II) ions meet, they form a brownish red precipitate of copper(II) potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) . Where as  potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) and iron(III) ions form a blue precipitate of iron(III) potassium hexacyanoferrate(II). This precipitate the ressubles real reefs.

₂CuSO₄ + K₄[Fe(CN)6] → Cu[Fe(CN)6]↓ + 2K₂SO₄

2K₄[Fe(CN)6] + 2NH₄Fe(SO₄)₂ → 2KFe[Fe(CN)6]↓ + (NH₄)₂SO₄ + 3K₂SO₄

  

Instant Snow Experiment or Artificial snow

Can you make an artificial snow at home?. Here is a method to make instant snow using methylene blue and sodium polyacrylate. Sodium polyacrylate is a polymer which swells on absorbing water and bounce out of the cup like a snow

Reagents

• Methylene blue
• Sodium polyacrylate

Procedure

1. Take a cup of water. 
2. Add sodium polyacrylate, then water molecule will bind to the sodium polyacrylate molecule with the help of hydrogen bonds. As a result, the sodium polyacraylate will grow is size and swells much. Snow like flakes bounce. 
3. To make the "snow" blue, add 5 drops of methylene blue.

Process

Sodium polyacrylate is a polymer. Its molecule  are very long and consist of identical fragments. These fragments contain carboxyl group that absorb water-they are hydrophilic. When polymer granules absorb water, they significantly increases in volume and become visually similar to snow flakes. 

Dazzling flame or Magnesium flash experiment

This wonderful experiment looks like very simple, but it involve many interesting chemical process.

On heating magnesium bonce with formation of magnesium oxide which shine brightly.

Reagents and equipment

• Magnesium strip
• Hot water 
• Phenolphthalein solution 
• Beaker 
• Spirit burner
• Tweezers
• Lighter or matches

Step by step instructions

1. Take hot water in a beaker and a spirit burner.
2. Burn the magnesium strip in the flame of the spirit burner.
3. Then dip it into the beaker of hot water.

Process.

Magnesium is a highly reactive alkaline earth metal, but its surface is covered with protective oxide film. On heating this film breaks and the magnesium burns with a blinding white flame. Here magnesium oxide and magnesium nitride, which also shine brightly. Magnesium react with water vapor, and hydrogen is released intensifies the flame. Magnesium oxide reacts with water to form the magnesium hydroxide, which is a weak base. In an alkaline medium the indicator turns purple also the magnesium nitride formed get hydrolyzed with the formation of magnesium hydroxide  and ammonium. When ammonium dissolves in water  to form ammonium hydroxide it also turn the water into pink

2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO
3Mg + N₂ → Mg₃N₂
Mg+H₂O → Mgo+H₂
Mg+2H₂O → Mg(OH)₂ + H₂
MgO + H₂O → Mg(OH)₂
Mg₃N₂ + 6H₂O → 3Mg(OH)₂ + 2NH₃
NH₃ + H₂O → NH₄OH

Warning! : Use tweezers when lighting the magnesium. You should look at the burning magnesium through dark glasses, as there is a risk of receiving a burn to the retina of eye and going blind. 

  

Golden rain experiment or golden spangle experiment

It is a spectacular science experiment. When a hot solution of lead iodide cools down, the salt settles in beautiful golden spangle.

Reagents and equipment

• Lead nitrate or any other lead salt (0.3 g)
• Potassium iodide (0.3 g)
• Acetic acid (0.2 ml)
• Distilled water (500 ml)
• Two beakers
• Flask (500 ml)

Procedure

1. Pour lead nitrate solution into a flask.
2. Then add potassium iodide. As a result lead (II) iodide form.
3. Add hot water until the precipitate dissolves.
4. Cool the flask. then lead iodide precipitate forming shining golden crystal.

Process

When the solutions of two salts are mixed, an exchange reaction takes place

Pb(NO₃)₂ + 2KI →PbI₂↓ + 2KNO₃

Lead iodide is insoluble in cold water, but at high temperature its solubility increases. So in hot solution the precipitation cannot observe. When the mixture cool, the solubility of lead iodide decreases, and PbI₂ crystal gradually begin to settle

Fireflies Or Fiery storm

Fireflies is a glamorous experiment .Here chromium (III) oxide scatters red sparks in a flask filled with ammonia.It is the oxidation process of ammonia ,where  hot  chromium (III) oxide act as a catalyst.

Reagents and equipment

1.aqueous solution of ammonia (10 ml)

2.chromium (III) oxide Or ammonium dichromate  (5-10 g)

3.11 liter flask

4.burning spoon or spatula

5.burner

Procedure

1.Pour ammonia into a flask.Carefully rotate flask to fill the air space in the flask with ammonia.

2.Burn a little chromium (III) oxide Or ammonium dichromate in a burning spoon or spatula until it ignites, using a burner. As a result, red sparks will starts to fly in the flask.

Process

It is the oxidation process of ammonia in presence of air. The hot chromium (III) oxide act as a catalyst for this reaction. Ammonia is oxidized into nitric oxide and water by the oxygen in the air .Nitric oxide is then oxidized to nitrogen dioxide, which is a brown gas.

4NH₃+5O2→4NO+6H₂O

2NO+O₂→2NO₂

Energy is released in the reaction which heats the particles of chromium (III) oxide causing them to glow and to fly glamorous red sparks in the flask.

Warning:This experiment should be carried out in a fume hood or well-ventilated room.

Lightning in a flask or Storm in flask

Lightning in a flask is an interesting and spectacular experiment, which resembles a real storm. Concentrated sulfuric acid react with potassium permanganate in presence of isopropyl alcohol to form glamours lightnings with flashes in flask.

Reagents and Equipment.

• Concentrated sulfuric acid (200 ml)
• Isopropyl alcohol (100 ml)
• Potassium permanganate crystals.
• Measuring cylinders or measuring cups.
• A flat-bottomed flask 

Step by Step Procedure 

1. Pour concentrated sulfuric acid into a flask .
2. Then carefully add isopropyl alcohol, so that the acid and alcohol don't mix.
3. Add potassium permanganate crystal after a while flashes will appear on the dividing line between acid and alcohol. 

Process.

Potassium permanganate  react with sulfuric acid to form manganese oxide (VII) . It is a powerful oxidizing agent, which oxidizes isoprophyl alcohol into acetone. Then acetone is ignited by the manganese(VII) oxide, thus producing smoke and glamours small lightnings in the flask. 

Warning: Always wear gloves and safety glasses when working with concentrated acids. Substances of this experiment are toxic and dangerous for your health. It is supposed to be conducted only under professional supervision.   

Funny elephant tooth paste

It is a very easy and funny  science experiment,which results in rapid eruption of huge amount of foam.surely,it is one among the top funny science experiment for kids.

Reagents and equipment

Level:beginner level (for kids)

1. 10% hydrogen peroxide

2. Food coloring  

3. Dish soap

4. Yeast

Level 2:Intermediate level

1. 20% hydrogen peroxide

2. Food coloring

3. Dish soap

4. Saturated potassium iodide

Level:3 Ultimate level

1. 35% hydrogen peroxide  

2. Food coloring

3. Dish soap

4. Saturated potassium iodide

Procedure

1.Take a round bottom flask, add hydrogen peroxide,.food coloring and dish soap.

2.Then add either yeast or saturated potassium iodide solution ,which results in a rapid eruption of huge amount of foam. It resembles tooth past.

Process

Elephant tooth paste is the decomposition process of hydrogen peroxide. Yeast potassium iodide works as a catalyst to break down the hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water. Soap will then mixed with the oxygen and water,which turn into foam. 

H₂O2→H₂O + O₂

as the concentration of hydrogen peroxide increases, more foam is emitted.

Sodium flower experiment II Chemical flower

H.ow to grow liquid flowers using sodium and alcohol? This is an impressive experiment shows how to grow a real  chemical garden from "sodium flowers".

Reagents and equipment

1. Phenolphthalein

2. metallic sodium

3. Ethanol

4. Isopropanol

5. Bromothymol blue

6. Glass bowl

7. Beaker

8. Glass rod

Procedure

1.Add isopropanol  and  ethanol  into a beaker and stir the solution well.

2.Pour the phenolphthalien and bromothymol blue indicators into the solution.

3.Pour the resulting indicator mixture into a glass bowl.

4.Add a few pieces of metallic sodium,which is a soft metal can even be cut with a knife. Watch as blue-red patterns that look like flowers that appear on the surface of the solution

Process

The sodium reacts with alcohols with the formation of sodium alkoxides,the solution of which have an alkaline nature.The indicators react to change in acidity,and turn the mixture blue,and crimson. Bromothymol turns blue and  phenolphthalien turns crimson. As isopropanol has a quiet high viscosity,the slow diffusion of the alkali takes place,an interesting effect which causes a flower to appear! The cunvection in the solution causes these beautiful flowers to grow!

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