- HOME-MADE PROJECTS -
Discover the Chemist in you!
PROJECT 1. Electrolysis to form hydrogen gas, oxygen gas, magnesium hydroxide, and sodium sulfate (Courtesy of "Kings Chem Guide").
Comments:
This procedure is an excellent tool for teaching the student the basics
of electro-chemical reactions utilizing a two compartment system. This
procedure will teach the student how he/she can make other products
from simple store bought materials.
Items:
1. 100 grams of baking soda;
2. 95 grams of pickling salt,
3. 198 grams of Epsom salt;
4. One 2-liter plastic container;
5 One solid 1-liter clay pot;
6. One graphite rod, 1/4th" by 6" length (or a Lead pipe of
1/2" by 6" length; a Lead anode can be made by melting Lead
"airgun" pellets into a make shift aluminum mold made by folding
and shaping several feet of aluminum foil).
7. One copper pipe or tube, 1/2" by 6" length
Procedure: Dissolve 95 grams of pickling salt into 600 milliliters of tap water, and after the salt dissolves, add in 100 grams of baking soda, and then stir the entire mixture or about 30 minutes. Thereafter, pour the entire solution/mixture into the anode compartment. Then dissolve 198 grams of Epsom salt into 800 milliliters of tap water, and then pour into the cathode compartment. Thereafter, electrolysize the apparatus at 12 volt 6 amp for about 12 hours. After 12 hours, remove the power source, and then filter the anode liquid to remove impurities (mostly insoluble carbonates). Note:: Use a solid clay pot for containing the anode liquid.
To recover the magnesium hydroxide, and sodium sulfate, filter the cathode liquid to recover the insoluble magnesium hydroxide, and then place the filtered cathode liquid into a crystallizing dish, and all it to evaporate. Upon evaporation, brilliant crystals of sodium sulfate decahydrate will remain.
Hazards: Carryout procedure in a well ventilation area as hydrogen gas is evolved and can accumulate in enclosed areas forming explosive mixtures with air. Do not touch the electrodes during the electrolyses process as electrocution will be the result; even though 12 volt 6 amp is not fatal, it can still bite!
Set-up:
VIDEOS OF THE HOME-MADE PROCESS (right click, select"save
target as", save to where you want):
Video 1, The startup
point (8.92 MB)
Video 2: 6 hours later
(7.14 MB)
PROJECT 2. Formation of Copper-I-oxide and chlorine (Courtesy of "Kings Chem Guide").
Comments:
This procedure is an excellent way of teaching you about basic electrolysis
techniques utilizing an open cell.
Items:
1. 50 grams of copper-II-chloride
2. 400 milliliters of tap water
3. One 500-milliliter three neck flask w/ 19/22 joints
4. Two 19/22 adapter joints
5 One 19/22 joint tube adapter
6. Two graphite rods, 1/4th" by 9" length (or a Lead pipe
of 1/2" by 9" length; a Lead anode can be made by melting
Lead "airgun" pellets into a make shift aluminum mold made
by folding and shaping several feet of aluminum foil).
Procedure:
Simply dissolve 50 grams of cupric chloride into 400 milliliters of
tap water, and then assemble the apparatus as illustrated below. Then
electrolysize the cell at 12 volt 6 amp for about 6 hours, or until
no more chlorine is evolved. After six hours or so, disassemble the
apparatus and then collect the brick red copper-I-oxide by filtration.
Hazards:
Carryout procedure in a well ventilation area as hydrogen gas is evolved
and can accumulate in enclosed areas forming explosive mixtures with
air. Dispose of the chlorine gas by bubbling it through a baking soda
solution or vent it properly using maximum ventilation. Chlorine inhalation
is hazardous. Do not touch the electrodes during the electrolyses process
as electrocution will be the result; even though 12 volt 6 amp is not
fatal, it can still bite!
Set-up:
VIDEOS OF THE HOME-MADE PROCESS (right click, select"save target
as", save to where you want):
Video 01: The Electrolysis
process (9.96 MB)
PROJECT 3. Electrolyses of pickling salt and Epsom salt to form ferric chloride (Courtesy of "Kings Chem Guide").
Comments:
This procedure is an excellent technique designed to teach the student
the basics of electro chemical reaction utilizing divided cells. In
this process, a simple clay pot is used a s the bridge.
Items:
1. 1100 milliliters of tap water
2. 120 grams of pickling salt
3. 251 grams of Epsom salt
4. Onecopper pipe or tube, 1/2" by 6" length
5. One graphite rod 1/4" by 6" length
6. One Iron rod of 1/4" by 6" length
7. One 2-liter plastic or glass container
8. One 1-liter solid clay pot
Process:
Dissolve Simply dissolve 120 grams of sodium chloride into 400 milliliters
of tap water. Thereafter, pour this solution into the anode compartment.
Thereafter, dissolve 251 grams of Epsom salt into 700 milliliters of
water, and then pour this solution into the cathode compartment. Then
electrolysize the apparatus at 12 volt 6 amp for 12 hours or more, using
a iron/graphite anode, and copper cathode. After 12 hours, most of iron
rod would have been dissolved into the anode liquid forming ferric chloride
hexahydrate. After the electrolysis process,filter the anode liquid
to remove any insoluble materials, and then pour the filtered anode
liquid into a crystallizing dish, and allow it to evaporate. The result
will be brilliant golden brownish-yellow crystals of ferric chloride
hexahydrate.
Hazards:
Carryout procedure in a well ventilation area as hydrogen gas is evolved
and can accumulate in enclosed areas forming explosive mixtures with
air. Do not touch the electrodes during the electrolyses process as
electrocution will be the result; even though 12 volt 6 amp is not fatal,
it can still bite!
Set-up:
VIDEOS OF THE HOME-MADE PROCESS (right click, select"save target
as", save to where you want):
Video 01: The process
(10.2 MB)