Quantum Levitation and Superconductors
Tom Kuntzleman | Thu, 06/03/2021 - 13:21
Some explorations and explanations regarding superconductors and the quantum levitation (also known as quantum locking) experiment.
Demonstrations
Simple formation of metal mirrors
Tom Kuntzleman | Mon, 05/10/2021 - 09:57
Beautiful, metallic mirrors of copper or silver can easily be formed in test tubes. Simply add the appropriate metal salt to a test tube, and heat! These reactions should be performed in a fume hood.
Effect of Temperature on Chemical Equilibrium using Copper Complexes
Tom Kuntzleman | Wed, 04/07/2021 - 11:00
This post describes a simple way to generate blue, green, orange, and yellow copper complexes, and to use these complexes to introduce students to the effect of temperature on chemical equilibria. The protcol avoids the use of caustic agents, allowing the experiments to be conducted by students as a laboratory-based investigation.
How Does the Rainbow Candy Experiment Work?
Tom Kuntzleman | Mon, 02/08/2021 - 07:10
Have you seen the rainbow candy experiment? It's a very simple experiment that involves pouring water into a plate that has M&M's candies or Skittles arranged in a pattern. Very curious shapes of sharply divided regions form spontaneously. How does this happen?!
Plating Pennies with Tin
Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 02/02/2021 - 10:06
Learn how to give pennies a beautiful, silvery-colored plating.
Holiday Reflections on the Silver Mirror Demonstration
Tom Kuntzleman | Mon, 12/28/2020 - 17:26
Tom Kuntzleman tests to see if Powerade can be used as a source of reducing sugars in the classic silver mirror demonstration, and reminisces about Christmas days past when doing so.
Color Changing Coke and Mentos
Tom Kuntzleman | Wed, 09/02/2020 - 03:07
What's a better way to start the new school year than with some new experiments? Learn how to use a variety of color changing experiments to teach students about the Diet Coke and Mentos experiment, acids, bases, chemical and physical changes, and climate change.
Colorful Copper Chemistry around the Campfire
Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 07/28/2020 - 13:09
Learn how to form a blue-green copper compound on a penny, and then use that compound to make green flames. This is a great summer time activity for your next campfire!
Demonstrating the Effectiveness of Mask-wearing with Liquid Nitrogen
Tom Kuntzleman | Sun, 06/28/2020 - 09:06
Liquid nitrogen is used to visualize the aerosol particles emitted while speaking, coughing, breathing, and sneezing. The ability of various masks to block these droplets was also tested.
Chemistry Experiments with the Flame Tube
Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 05/26/2020 - 12:37
The Ruben's Tube (also known as a Flame Tube) is a classic experiment used in physics classes. There's also a bit of chemistry to be learned while experimenting with a Ruben's Tube...