Zinc is often used as a safe, stable, and dirt-cheap reducing agent for inorganic and preparative chemistry. For example, the easiest way to produce chromium(II) and vanadium(II) solutions is reduction of higher oxidation states with a mixture of zinc...
I have compiled a list of sources for the elements that are available to the amateur chemist. Mercury will be discussed here. Mercury is one of the two liquid elements on the periodic table and the only metal that is liquid. Well known for its toxicity...
I have become interested in mini-thermites, thermites that are relatively safe and interesting. Magnesium, being more reactive than aluminium and still quite stable, appears to be the reducing metal of choice. The heat wave created by a magnesium thermite...
This experiment involves reduction of copper(II) oxide, a black water-insoluble powder, with magnesium metal. The reaction is CuO + Mg -> MgO + Cu. The reaction is quite exothermic. Do this away from all flammable materials. Do not get too close to the...
I have compiled a list of sources for the elements that are available to the amateur chemist. Platinum will be discussed here. Platinum is a dense, shiny, expensive metal. It is extremely malleable, just like gold, allowing it to be shaped easily. Platinum...
I have compiled a list of sources for the elements that are available to the amateur chemist. Bromine will be discussed here. Bromine is a dark red liquid, one of the two elements liquid at STP on the periodic table. Bromine is a highly reactive member...
Copper is a first-row transition metal that produces a wide variety of colors in its compounds and complexes. Copper chemistry is interesting and easy, making it optimal for chemistry beginners. One such exercise involves the creation of every color in...
I have compiled a list of sources for the elements that are available to the amateur chemist. Indium will be discussed here. Indium is an extremely soft, silver-gray metal. It is found under aluminium in the post-transition metal area. Indium is moderatley...
I recently received yttrium and erbium as a generous gift from one of my family members. Here are the metals in their original containers. As these are rare earth metals, they look and react similarly. However, erbium forms pinkish compounds, while yttrium...
Warning: Bromates are suspected carcinogens. Limit exposure to them. They are also strong oxidizers. Keep away from combustible materials. Bromine is smelly and toxic in large quantities. Perform this reaction outdoors. You will need: Source of potassium...
My ultimate goal was to form the dioxide of both elements. With that goal in mind, I performed a wide range of experiments but failed to obtain the goal in either case. My tellurium came in crystalline chunks. These were extremely brittle and somewhat...
I have compiled a list of sources for the elements that are available to the amateur chemist. Gold will be discussed here. Gold, the most well known precious metal, has been that way since antiquity. Gold is a yellow, malleable, dense (19 g/cm3 compared...
I have compiled a list of sources for the elements that are available to the amateur chemist. Praseodymium will be discussed here. Praseodymium is one of the more reactive rare earth metals. It forms a trivalent state, like all other lanthanides, that...
There are several ways to make invisible ink, but I decided to try a dye that responds to changes in pH. Phenolphthalein is a white crystalline substance which is soluble in alcohol. Solutions of it are colorless at a pH below 8.2 and magenta or pink...
I have compiled a list of sources for the elements that are available to the amateur chemist. Hafnium will be discussed here. Hafnium is the first element after the long and boring series of rare earth metals are completed. (Whether you wish to purchase...
I have compiled a list of sources for the elements that are available to the amateur chemist. Iridium will be discussed here. Iridium is one of the rarest and densest elements in the earth's crust. It is found in small concentrations in platinum ores...
I have compiled a list of sources for the elements that are available to the amateur chemist. Neodymium will be discussed here. Neodymium is one of the more reactive rare earth metals. It forms one oxidation state, +3, and has the unique property of color-changing...
I wanted to produce beryllium hydroxide as my example of a beryllium compound. To produce this solid, I placed beryllium in copper(II) chloride crystals, then added a few drops of water. An extremely vigorous reaction began, with steam being profusely...
Flash powder is a pyrotechnic mixture that, when ignited, burns with a bright flash. The reaction happens so rapidly that the powder seems to disappear after ignition. This mixture is often used in fireworks due to its ability to explode when confined....
Silver is best dissolved by nitric acid, forming a colorless solution of silver nitrate. However, nitric acid is difficult to obtain, so acetic acid is used instead to dissolve it. I dissolved some anodized (silver is made vulnerable, not protected, by...
I have compiled a list of sources for the elements that are available to the amateur chemist. Tantalum will be discussed here. Tantalum is an extremely dense, bluish-gray metal. It is named after the king Tantalus, who was submerged in water he could...
At my college, I had a poster session where individuals are asked to create posters of some research project or work that they did and present them. I decided to create my poster about titanium anodizing. Since the time when I discovered the range of...
I have compiled a list of sources for the elements that are available to the amateur chemist. Barium will be discussed here. Barium is a soft, silvery gray metal of the alkaline earth metals. It is the heaviest member of the group that is not radioactive,...
Titanium, as a left side transition metal, is more prone to vigorous reactions at high temperatures than at low (e.g. room) temperatures. Actually, at low temperatures, titanium is an inert metal, hardly dissolving in or reacting with any acid, base,...
I have compiled a list of sources for the elements that are available to the amateur chemist. Terbium will be discussed here. Terbium is one of the less reactive rare earth metals. It forms trivalent compounds, white and boring. Terbium also forms some...
/fdata%2F4523202%2Favatar-blog-1238908934-tmpphpj7Hi0D.jpg){kind=avatar}
