Main Group Elements- Reaction of Potassium Metal With Bromine

Reaction of Potassium Metal with Bromine

Description: A small piece of potassium held at a distance in forceps is touched to a small amount of liquid bromide. A vigorous reaction ensues, accompanied by a loud snap.

This demonstration is also available on video and on JCE Software “Chemistry Comes Alive!”  Vol. 1 CD-Rom

Source: UW Card Catalog

Year:   2000    Vol: 1  Page: N/A

Keywords: Group 1, Group 7, Potassium, Bromine, Exothermic, Ionic

Rating:

Hazard: High

• Acute toxicity hazard – oral, dermal, inhalation
• Serious eye damage
• Skin corrosion hazard
• Flammability hazard
• Acute aquatic toxicity hazard
• Substances that emit flammable gas when wet
• Target organs: eyes, skin, mucus membranes, lungs, nervous system
• Explosion hazard

Effectiveness: Good

• Results are clearly observable without guidance
• Good connection from demo to course material
• Strong effects are seen by audience
• High reliability
• Time to results is low

Difficulty: Medium

• Demos with some intermediate steps to results
• Use of highly reactive reagents
• Demos that require training to perform correctly
• Some fine manipulations required
• Sequential manipulations

Safety Precautions:

• Eye protection required
• Gloves required
• Lab coat recommended
• Vent hood or downdraft hood required
• Use of safety rod and secondary containment required
• ABC fire extinguisher on hand
• Sodium thiosulfate on hand
• Avoid exposures to mists, vapors or gases
• Prevent release of reagents to  the environment

Class: Main Group Elements

Division: General

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