When water is squeezed into an inverted flask containing ammonia, the ammonia dissolves in the water and the reduced pressure causes a fountain effect.
A rubber bulb containing a small quantity of water is attached to an inverted flask full of ammonia gas. A long tube extends from within the inverted flask of ammonia into a large container full of phenolphthalein and water. When the water is squeezed from the rubber bulb into the flask, the ammonia gas dissolves, causing reduced pressure that allows atmospheric pressure to force water from the reservoir into the flask. In the basic ammonia solution, the phenolphthalein turns pink.
Credits:
- Design, Demonstration and Production
- John W. Moore University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
- Lynn R. Hunsberger University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292
- Steven D. Gammon University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843
- Text
- Kelly Houston Jetzer University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
- John W. Moore University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706