Chemical Forums
Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: ShadowSpirit on December 19, 2009, 12:39:25 PM
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We have to do a project revolving around the chemistry of metals (could be any metal in any form), which should involve doing experiments. It could be pure investigation or it could be developing something "new" (eg. a more environmentally friendly way of doing something, a new method to save materials, a new type of use for a material).
I would like to use some directions in starting the research for this project. There isn't much we could do in a high school lab (eg. no nano materials, expensive metals, dangerous procedures or high-tech equipments), and we don't have extensive chemistry knowledge to really think of something "new" and "original", as it is required. I'd be very very grateful if you could suggest some ideas which I could look into.
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I would go for redox reactions of tranisiton metals especially vanadium
http://www.chemguide.co.uk/inorganic/transition/vanadium.html#top
and chromium
http://www.chemguide.co.uk/inorganic/transition/chromium.html#top
why? Vivid colour changes. Lots of good redox potential theory
Or redox titrations of transition metals
http://www.chemguide.co.uk/inorganic/transition/manganese.html
Vivid reaction and good theory/calculations to add some "weight"
Both easy to perform in school lab
Clive
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Superconductors - I did this as research topic in school, also had to make one. Was very fun and very interesting. And it's understandable at a "low level".
Environmental processes I know of containing transition metals are the Monsanto process and Wacker process. But none of these I think are possible to perform in a regular lab.