Chemistry experiments at home
Supply sources
alkaline batteries — Zn metal (case), MnO2, [NH4]Cl, carbon rod
HSO4 –auto parts stores
Experiments
1. Burn Mg metal.
2. Electrolysis of H2O -> H2 + O2
3. Different color flames (NaCl, )
4. Extract Bismuth Metal from Pepto-Bismol Tablets.
30g pepto-bismo (bismuth subsalicylate) + 260 ml 32% HCl in 1.3 L H2O -> salicylic acid + bismuth chloride -> filter -> bismuth chloride + Al foil -> bismuth (black powder) -> heat in inert atmosphere -> Bi metal
5. Li metal from Li battery -> burn.
6. DNA from strawberries
7. pennies + HCl -> Zn dissolves, laving shell of Cu
8. Thermite: Fe2O3 + 2 Al → 2 Fe + Al2O3
9. Red cabbage pH indicator. Boil red cabbage ~10 min, collect purple juice. Filter through a paper towel. The purple color is due to anthocyanins. These anthocyanins can either accept a proton or donate one, and the three states are three different colors, link, link2. Add test items (colorless or weakly color things work best), and observe. Used: lime juice, hot sauce, coffee, H2O, baking soda, ammonia.
10. Silver nitrate copper tree. Silver nitrate solution, 0.1 M. Suspend copper wire in solution, leave ~10-30 min.
Cu + 2AgNO3 -> 2Ag + Cu(NO3)2.
11. Silver nitrate halide precipitation reactions. Silver nitrate solution, 0.05 M, Potassium chloride solution, 0.1 M, Potassium iodide solution, 0.1 M, about 1 ml of each. link.
AgNO3 + KCl -> AgCl(s) + KNO3
Ag+(aq) + Cl–(aq) 
AgCl(s)
11. Silver nitrate mirror reaction.
Silver nitrate solution, 0.05 M, NaOH 0.0125 M, ammonia solution 5% – 10%. Glucose.
Mix the solution of silver nitrate and a few milliliters of sodium hydroxide. A brown sediment of silver oxide forms (2 AgOH → Ag2O + H2O). Then add the ammonia until the sediment dissolves completely. Avoid excess ammonia, it can affect the quality off the covering and the speed at which the silver settles. This makes Tollens’ reagent, link. Add glucose solution and pour on surface.
НОСН₂(СНОН)₄HС=O (glucose) + 2[Ag(NH₃)₂]OH -> НОСН₂(CHОН)₄СООH + 2Ag +4NH₃ + 2H₂O
Better adhesion after stannous chloride rinse.
Link, link2.
Aldehyde reaction:![{\displaystyle {\ce {2[Ag(NH3)2]+ + R-CHO + H2O -> 2Ag(s) + 4NH3 + R-COOH + 2H+}}}](https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/fa6966d8a9edd16842a0b793eb703cb52d441be5)
In a positive test, the diamine silver(I) complex oxidizes the aldehyde to a carboxylate ion and in the process is reduced to elemental silver and aqueous ammonia.
Sensitize glass: Stannous chloride 10 g, 20 ml of HCl (0.25 M HCl) in 1 L.
Dissolve 0.45 g AgNO3 in 50 ml H2O. Add 12.5 ml ammonia, then 2.3 ml of 10 N NaOH. Then add ammonia until brown precipitate re-dissolves. Then add 3 g glucose, apply to glass.
12. Sodium polyacrylate, super-absorbent polymer.
Take 30 grams of sodium polyacrylate. Stir in 400 mL of distilled water.