Experiment #5: Burning an Orange

Experiment #4: Explosive Bubbles

Experiment #4 and 5!

Ok I just finished filming experiments #4 and #5.  I think they worked out really well.  Experiment #4 is called exploding bubbles and I have to give Popular Science the credit for coming up with the experiment.  Experiment #5 is a really easy experiment with a bang.  This one anyone can do with only 3 supplied.  I think it is called burning an orange and I have to credit the youtube video I first saw it on but that will come later when I post my video of it.  Look forward to seeing two new videos coming out soon.

Dear Blank Please Blank

Dear person who invented salt,
What made you decide to combine two deadly poisons and put it on your food?
Sincerely, NaCl.

Experiment #3

Ok guys I am working hard doing some research for experiment #3 but I am trying to get a read on what you want to see.  Please leave comments below or comment on my new polls.  Also please follow me! Then I can know how many people are watching.  Give me some input and I will give you a new experiment.  In the mean time enjoy THIS.

A chemist came home from research and his wife asked "was research productive or reactive?"

Chemistry Interview with Sam

I talked with Samuel Browning for my Interview.  Sam is a freshman Honors college student at UNCG majoring in Chemistry.  The interview is shown below in a question answers format.

Sam what are you doing this summer?
I am doing research with Dr. Oberlies in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UNCG.
What type of research will you be doing for Dr. Oberlies?
I will be testing purified compounds for anti-fungal properties.  The compounds will be used to kill fungi specifically on feet.

What are you most excited about doing your chemistry research?

Winning my noble prize for my ground breaking research as an undergraduate researcher!

Of the chemistry experiments that you have done, which was your favorite?

I did an entertaining experiment for kids in which I turned what appeared to be water into what looked like milk.  I then turned the "milk" into what appear to be grape juice. The kids loved the experiment.

What is your favorite chemistry joke?

“Do you have mole problems if so call Avogadro at 602-1023”

Have you ever had problems with your experiments?

Yes, once I failed a lab because all of my data was wrong.

What is your favorite chemistry quote?

"Chem is try." Because it spells chemistry and jokes about the point of chemistry.

Who is your favorite scientist?

Howard Florey because he was in charge of the lab that discovered penicillin. He spearheaded the research while scraping together funding during WWII.

Sam what is your favorite color?

I do not have a favorite color.

Thanks to Sam for participating in my interview.  Hope you enjoy the interview.  If you have your own interesting or exciting answers to these questions leave them in the comments below.

My Chemistry Lab

Above is a reaction I was running in my hood.  The balloon is filled with argon gas to keep the reaction under a closed atmosphere.  The reaction is in a round bottom flask on a stir plate with a stir bar inside.  The picture on the right shows more of my hood.  The hood creates a air drag up and out of the lab so that the chemicals do not escape the hood.

Below is a glass column filled with silica gel.  The column is used to separate the product reaction out into fractions.  Each fraction can then be individually tested to see what the resulting product is.

Above is the solvent machine.  It is filled with 5 commonly used solvents.  It is a complex machine that can fill a container with the solvent without exposing it to air.

Above is the glove box, this is for highly air sensitive chemicals.  These chemicals will actually grab water out of the air if they are allowed to be exposed to it.
Below is a picture of another hood that has two different vacuum lines set up to run multiple reactions at the same time.

How To: Invisible Ink video

Here it how to do your own Invisible Ink experiment.

If the experiment does not work increase your concentration of Baking soda in the water or try a different grape drink.

Experient #2: Invisible Ink

Want to write a secret message to see if your friends can crack the code and read the message?  This is an easy and quick way to produce invisible ink.  All of the supplies can be found in anyones house.

Obtain: Baking Soda, class of water, piece of paper, and grape juice.

Procedures:  Mix some baking soda into the water, add enough that the water appears cloudy.  Dip your fingers into the class and write out the desired message on the piece of paper.  Allow the paper to dry.  Spill a small amount of grape juice on the paper so that it covers the entire message.  The message text should chance color and you should be able to read the message.  If this does not work try increasing the amount of baking soda in the water.

To see if your friends can crack the code, tell them you left them a note and lead them to only the black piece of paper and a glass of grape juice.  See if they are clever enough to find the hidden message.

Stay tuned for a video demonstration and an explanation of the chemistry involved.