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.