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PRACTICALS
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This is a nice experiment to get students used to a new laboratory and check out their practical skills. It gives some useful early practice at making observations. There is quite a lot to do in this session, although it is not critical that each group of students carries out all five reactions. We save (and flame polish) damaged test tubes especially for this type of experiment. The test tube mortality rate is quite high!
Materials:
| Cobalt(II) chloride-6-water (2 g) | Copper(II) nitrate-3-water (2 g) |
| Zinc carbonate (2 g) | Iron(II) sulfate-7-water (2 g) |
| Sodium nitrate (2 g) | Limewater |
| Full range indicator paper | 5 test tubes - see above |
| Bunsen burner | Heat-proof mat |
| Test tube holders | Splints |
| Fume cupboard access |
It is better to save the Thermite demonstration for another day. It only takes around ten minutes to set up and do, so it's an excellent demonstration to brighten up and finish off a theory class with.
I do this reaction outside using quite large quantities of reagent, but this is NOT recommended by CLEAPSS, so perhaps this version is best saved for the video. The recommended demonstration is done using less than 20 grams of thermite mixture in a crucible. This can be done in the fume cupboard to reduce the smoke. The initiator is a mixture of 1.7 grams of barium peroxide mixed carefully, without grinding or use of metal implements, with 0.2 grams of magnesium powder.
Materials:
| Iron(III) oxide | Magnesium powder |
| Fine aluminium powder | Barium peroxide |
| Short length of magnesium ribbon |