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.
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