Spectacular demonstrations

The experiments included in this section provide a range of spectacular, exciting and attention-grabbing demonstrations which students will not be able to perform themselves.

While we are still at an early stage with this website it's probably more useful to look at the page with our complete list of experiments in alphabetical order. See the list on About this website.

We are starting with GCSE-level experiments.
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Experiments

• Controlled explosion of a methane-air mixture

  Methane and air are allowed to mix and burn in a controlled way until an explosive mixture is reached.

• Controlled explosion of a hydrogen-air mixture

  Hydrogen and air are allowed to mix and burn in a controlled way until an explosive mixture is reached.

• A hydrogen powered rocket

  Explosive mixtures of hydrogen and air are used to propel ‘rockets’ made of plastic bottles.

• Red, white and blue!

  A colourful demonstration involving addition of ammonia to three colourless solutions, which turn turn red, milky white and blue respectively. Acidification reverses the colour changes.

• 'Cannon' fire

  An explosive demonstration involving the combustion of ethanol in the presence of potassium manganate(VII) and hydrogen peroxide.

• An oscillating reaction

  A mixture containing bromate(V) ions, propane-1,3-dioic (malonic)acid and manganese(II) ions oscillates in colour between red-brown and colourless with a period of about 20 seconds.

• Disappearing plastic!

  Expanded polystyrene is placed in propanone. It shrinks and fizzes as it dissolves. A small amount of propanone can absorb an impressive volume of packing material.

• The reaction of ethyne with chlorine

  Calcium carbide reacts with an acid to produce ethyne (acetylene) gas. Chlorine from household bleach reacts spontaneously with the ethyne, giving a yellow, sooty flame.

• The ‘Whoosh’ Bottle Demonstration

  An alcohol/air mixture is ignited, resulting in a rapid *combustion* reaction, often accompanied by a dramatic ‘whoosh’ sound,

• The ‘breathalyser’ reaction

  The reaction between ethanol and potassium dichromate illustrates the original ‘breathalyser’ test to detect alcohol in the breath of a driver.

• A giant silver mirror

  A silver mirror is formed on the inside of a large flask.

• The alcohol ‘gun’

  A demonstration of the large energy changes that occur during the combustion of alcohols.

• Fat-pan fire!

  A fat-pan fire is used to demonstrate the conditions required to start combustion.

• The cornflour ‘bomb’

  A small explosion, caused by the rapid combustion of cornflour, blows the lid off a tin.

• Dyeing – three colours from the same dye-bath

  A visually attractive demonstration of the chemical specificity of different dyes for different fabrics.

• A colourful oscillating reaction

  A mixture of bromate ions, bromide ions, malonic acid and ferroin indicator in solution oscillates between red and blue as a result of a series of reversible redox reactions.

• The position of iron in the reactivity series

  This experiment involves a series of reactions that help identify the positions of iron in the reactivity series.

• The thermite reaction

  A classic demonstration illustrating competition between metals for oxygen. Aluminium powder reacts with iron(III) oxide in a spectacular manner.

• Properties of hydrogen chloride

  This experiment looks at preparing hydrogen chloride and investigating some of its properties.

• The reaction of magnesium with copper(II) oxide

  This experiment can be used to confirm the relative positions of magnesium and copper in the reactivity series.

• Heating Group 1 metals in air and in chlorine

  This experiment demonstrates the reactions of Group 1 metals in air and in chlorine.

• Reaction between aluminium and iodine

  A demonstration of the reaction between aluminium and iodine, producing aluminium iodide.

• Liquefying chlorine gas

  This experiment shows how easy it is to liquefy chlorine gas by cooling alone.

• Flame colours – a demonstration

  A spectacular demonstration experiment to show the vivid flame colours of a variety of metal salts.

• Universal Indicator ‘Rainbow’

  A fascinating but simple and quick demonstration to illustrate the full range of colours of Universal indicator.

• Sodium ethanoate ‘stalagmite’

  A demonstration showing rapid crystallisation of a supersaturated solution

• Chemiluminescence – cold light

  Oxidation of luminol by sodium chlorate(I) produces a blue chemiluminescent glow.

• Ammonium dichromate volcano

  An eruption of green ash, sparks and steam occurs as ammonium dichromate(VI) decomposes exothermically.

• Iodine clock reaction

  Demonstration of the slow reaction between iodide ions and hydrogen peroxide – the time for a blue colour to appear can be varied by altering the conditions.

• Indicators and dry ice: demonstration

  A colourful and spectacular demonstration in which solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) is used to cause a colour change in one or more indicators.

• Sulfuric acid as a dehydrating agent

  Two short demonstrations which highlight the dehydrating properties of sulfuric acid.

• Spontaneous exothermic reaction

  The delayed reaction between potassium manganate(VII) and glycerol.

• Exploding balloons

  Demonstration experiment involving exploding balloons containing mixtures of hydrogen and oxygen in varying proportions.

• Ammonia fountain

  This spectacular demonstration highlights the high solubility of ammonia in water. The ammonia is shown to form an alkaline solution.

• Anodising aluminium

  An experiment showing a useful application of electrolysis.