Hydrogen + Chlorine Cannon
Play movie (34 seconds, 2 MB)
Hydrogen and chlorine gases can be mixed together without reacting. They have been placed into a test tube with a cork in it. The test tube is placed into a small cannon with a hole in the side that will allow light to pass through. A magnesium ribbon is ignited and brought close to the hole and when the light from the burning magnesium ribbon strikes the mixture, the hydrogen and chlorine react explosively, propelling the cork out of the test tube.
(The test tube is placed within the brass cannon for safety; should the explosion shatter the test tube, the metal would prevent flying glass. The hydrogen and chlorine do not react when they are just mixed together, but the reaction can be initiated by a bright light.)
(43)
Portion with no voice-over
Play movie (9 seconds, .5 MB)
This is a portion of the movie having the same video, but the audio consists of the sound of the experiment only, without the voice-over.
Hydrogen + Chlorine Animation
Play movie (18 seconds, 1 MB)
Reaction of hydrogen and chlorine gases can be initiated by ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light breaks a chlorine molecule apart. This starts a chain reaction, which quickly forms hydrogen chloride molecules.
(31)
© 1997 Division of Chemical Education, Inc., American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.