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.