We learned about Metals & Its Reactivity Series.
Sodium (Na) is considered a very reactive metal and it will reacts vigorously when added into water.
Video below shows the “mini explosions” that occurs when a small piece of sodium is added into a large basin of water.
Alternatively, you can check out this specific link to this youtube video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xEyik_dQZI
PS: What is product of this reaction? Leave me a comment below this post.
All my students have heard me talked about the doing experiments in “real” laboratories as well as the life of a chemists in the laboratories. Recently, i was at one of the local university and was managed to get a few pictures of undergraduates having their practical sessions in the academic laboratory. I thought it would be beneficial to let those students that are considering to further their higher educational studies in the specialized areas of Chemistry, to have a better idea with some pictures of work in laboratories.
First picture showed students preparing their reaction inside the fume-hood (a semi-enclosed space that sucks up and out the chemical vapour that might be released into the lab). The second picture shows a common reaction vessel with chemical reaction going on.
Hope you will find these pictures interesting and stimulate & open your mind towards Chemistry.
Recently, i received several enquiries and questions from students on the color of copper hydroxides and copper carbonates.
I understand why the confusion. This is because in the local Secondary Schools, many of the Science (Chemistry) teachers are only showing the students of the Blue Color PPT when they test for the Cu2+ cation using alkaline solution such as dilute NaOH or aqueous Ammonia Solution. The Blue Color PPT are due to the formation of insoluble Copper Hydroxide which is very distinct.
Many of students are confused and thought all Copper Salts have a Blue Color PPT. This is certainly NOT TRUE.
Summary on Color & Form of Common Copper Salts:
* Copper Hydroxide –> Insoluble Blue Color Precipitates (PPT)
* Copper Carbonate –> Insoluble Green Color Powders
* Other soluble copper salts –> Blue Color Solutions
Below is the appearance of Copper Carbonate powder:
Hope this post helps you in some ways! =)
