Formulae and equations

The activities in this section can be used to consolidate knowledge and understanding of chemical formulae and balanced equations.

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

• Combustion of hydrogen in air

  Mixtures of hydrogen and air are ignited, to find which proportions of the two gases by volume produce the loudest explosion (‘pop’).

• Reaction of hydrogen and oxygen: reacting masses

  Copper(II) oxide is reduced by hydrogen. The mass loss of the oxide and mass gain due to water formation give the reacting masses of oxygen and hydrogen respectively.

• Thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate

  Some reactions involving the thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate, hydration of the calcium oxide formed and the reaction of limewater with carbon dioxide are investigated.

• Investigating the solubilities of lead halides

  Solutions of soluble halides are mixed with a solution of a lead salt. Students investigate the formation of insoluble lead halides, and effect of temperature.

• Finding the formula of copper oxide

  In this class experiment students reduce copper(II) oxide with methane. With careful weighing, the results can be used to find the formula of the copper oxide.

• The change in mass when magnesium burns

  Magnesium of a known mass is reacted with oxygen in a crucible to prevent loss of the product. The crucible is re-weighed at the end to show that there is an increase in mass. This experiment can also be used to find the formula of magnesium oxide.

• Finding the formula of hydrated copper(II) sulfate

  The formula of hydrated copper(II) sulfate is found by heating a sample to remove the water of crystallisation.

• Exothermic or endothermic?

  Students look at the temperature changes in four reactions to see if they are exothermic or endothermic.