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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: NaOH on February 21, 2010, 06:27:04 PM

Title: Will you give it a 10/10?
Post by: NaOH on February 21, 2010, 06:27:04 PM
I have a friend who is doing for his chemistry project Hydrochluric acid with aluminum, and he is puting it into a soda bottle to make an explotion. If what grade would you give it if you were a teacher and a student brings you an explosion and tells you it makes hydrogen gas and thats why it explodes.
Title: Re: Will you give it a 10/10?
Post by: nj_bartel on February 21, 2010, 06:53:32 PM
I don't think I could condone that experiment as a high school teacher.
Title: Re: Will you give it a 10/10?
Post by: renge ishyo on February 21, 2010, 07:35:43 PM
What are the guidelines for the assignment? The grade should depend on whether or not the student is following through on what the required task is or not.
Title: Re: Will you give it a 10/10?
Post by: skyjumper on February 21, 2010, 07:48:55 PM
Hydrogen isn't making it explode perse. I would give the kid an F for not knowing its the pressure caused by the liberated gas, not the explosive nature of the gas causing the explosion.
Title: Re: Will you give it a 10/10?
Post by: NaOH on February 21, 2010, 08:04:16 PM
The assignment is to make a chemical reaction, you have to know the chemicals your using and the product of the reaction and explain it.
Title: Re: Will you give it a 10/10?
Post by: skyjumper on February 21, 2010, 08:40:24 PM
The contained in a bottle part is not necessary. "your friend" should know the other products too.
Title: Re: Will you give it a 10/10?
Post by: renge ishyo on February 22, 2010, 01:37:58 PM
Right, the explosion is not necessary. You can do the same reaction open to the atmosphere. The gas should show up as bubbles escaping from the solution. In general, teachers aren't going to think explosions are as "fun" as they are to you young people. Remember, THEY are responsible if anybody gets hurt, not you!
Title: Re: Will you give it a 10/10?
Post by: JGK on February 22, 2010, 02:23:16 PM
You could always do this one http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/content/experiment/exploding-pringles-can (http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/content/experiment/exploding-pringles-can)
Title: Re: Will you give it a 10/10?
Post by: 408 on February 22, 2010, 02:29:03 PM
Silly.

It does not explode because there is hydrogen inside.  Just pressure.  I would fail you on the spot, not for making an 'explotion' but for making the assumption that it explodes because of H2 being present. 

Do the reaction in a stoppered flask and allow the H2 to bubble through soap solution.  You can then burn the bubbles and show H2 is produced.  You actually doing 2 reactions here, producing the H2, and combusting it.

Renge:  Depends on the teacher ;)

Title: Re: Will you give it a 10/10?
Post by: NaOH on February 22, 2010, 02:49:28 PM
LOLs the kid was going to present today and he said, you mix hydrochluric acid and aluminum foil and it gives explotion and   
the teacher said, ok you will present another day.
Title: Re: Will you give it a 10/10?
Post by: renge ishyo on February 22, 2010, 02:59:10 PM
Quote
Renge:  Depends on the teacher

Haha, fair enough! JGK why, good God...why?  :'(

Quote
the teacher said, ok you will present another day.

Meanwhile the teacher visits the principles office and tries to find out what his rights are...
Title: Re: Will you give it a 10/10?
Post by: NaOH on February 22, 2010, 04:41:19 PM
Silly.

It does not explode because there is hydrogen inside.  Just pressure.  I would fail you on the spot, not for making an 'explotion' but for making the assumption that it explodes because of H2 being present.  

Do the reaction in a stoppered flask and allow the H2 to bubble through soap solution.  You can then burn the bubbles and show H2 is produced.  You actually doing 2 reactions here, producing the H2, and combusting it.

Renge:  Depends on the teacher ;)


When I said my friend I mean it really I am really talking about a friend, I told him to not do it on the bottle and he and the others around me said like: Weres the fun of it, just to watch some aluminum dissolve?