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This needs to be done in the fume cupboard because of the release of nitrogen dioxide gas. If you are short of fume cupboard space it is worth combining this experiment with the previous heating of carbonates experiment. Some students can heat the carbonates in the open lab whilst others use the fume cupboards for the nitrates. There is a tendency for many students to do things in order though, so it needs a little management to persuade groups to use the empty fume cupboards at the start.
We keep a stock of damaged, flame-polished test tubes for this experiment as there tends to be a high test tube mortality rate. It is worth reminding students to allow the hot test tubes to cool on a heat-proof mat to save damage to test tube racks and bench surfaces.
Materials:
| Magnesium nitrate (2 g) | Calcium nitrate (2 g) |
| Strontium nitrate (2 g) | |
| Test tubes - see above | Test tube holders |
| Bunsen burner | Heat-proof mat |
| Access to fume cupboard | Splints |