Demonstrations Page 2 - Kinetics
and Combustion
Scroll down to view photographs and short descriptions of
some of the demonstrations in the list below.
WARNING – Use at your own risk! We cannot guarantee the accuracy or the safety of these activities. Some of these activities are far more dangerous than others. The contributors and Bradley University do not assume any responsibility for these activities or their results. If you have questions, corrections, or comments please do not hesitate to contact Dean Campbell (campbell@bumail.bradley.edu) at Bradley University.
- Ferrofluid
Demonstrations
- Refrigerator
Magnet Demonstrations
- Polydimethysiloxane
Demonstrations
- LEGO® Brick Chemistry and Nanotechnology Demonstrations
- How should you observe a demonstration
involving an explosion?
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- A
B
C
D
- E
F
G
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- If you picked "C" you are correct. In this position
the shock wave of the explosion will be deflected by your hands,
yet you will still be able hear other sounds in the room, like
the voice of the person giving the demonstrations. Source: Dr.
John Fortman in a presentation at Bradley University.
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- Elephant's Toothpaste in a Pumpkin
(catalytic decompostion of hydrogen peroxide within dishsoap
creates a foam)
- Doing the "Elephant's Toothpaste" reaction inside
a pumpkin. The foam oozes from the mouth and eye holes of the
pumpkin, resulting in a totally gross demonstration! ABOVE: The
foam is just beginning to ooze out. BELOW: At the end of the
demo (left) and photographs of another run (middle and right).
Potassium iodide was used as the catalyst. Special thanks to
Kathleen Shanks at the Institute
for Chemical Education for helpful advice.
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- This demonstration is based on an article published in Chem
13 News. We do not have the article information, but we would
be happy to post it if anyone finds the reference.
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- Alcohol Rocket Car (exothermic
combustion of alcohol)
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- Put wheels on a milk jug and alcohol vapor inside, then light
the end and away it goes! Special thanks to Wayne Bosma at Bradley
University for introducing me to the classic alcohol "whoosh"
bottle. BELOW LEFT: The rocket car at Demos on the Lawn '99
in Madison, Wisconsin. BELOW RIGHT: What may happen to the rocket
car if you don't write to me for detailed directions.
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- Another type of rocket car that circumvents the whole issue
of fire as the basis for propulsion uses the pressure from chemical
production of carbon dioxide as a source of thrust. Click here to view information on this demonstration.
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Return to Dr. Campbell's Favorite
Demonstrations
Last updated 1/17/12
Site created at the laboratory of Dean Campbell