Main Group Elements- Water Gas Reaction

Water Gas Reaction

Two photo sequence: a labeled squirt bottle of clear liquid, a hand atop a stoppered flask labeled “oxygen” on a cork ring, and a spoon in orange and blue flame of a burner.  In the second photo, a hand holds the labeled squirt bottle of clear liquid with the bottle’s nozzle in a flask, a spoon and a bright light within the flask on a cork ring, and a burner.

Description: Graphite is heated in a flame and plunged into a flask of oxygen. Water is dropped on the hot carbon. There is a bright flash as the hydrogen and carbon monoxide are produced. These in turn react to form carbon dioxide and water.

Source: UW Card Catalog

Year: N/A   Vol: N/A   Page: N/A

Keywords: Graphite,  Oxygen, Water, Hydrogen, Oxidation, Combustion

Rating:

Hazard: Some

• Flammability hazard
• Burn hazard
• Explosion hazard
• Serious eye damage

Effectiveness: Average

• Some connection from demo to course material
• Good effects are seen by audience
• Low reliability
• Results are observable without guidance
• Significant failure rate
• Time to results is medium

Difficulty: High

• Sensitive manipulations involving multiple steps
• Use of open flame
• Demos require training or extended practice
• Complex lab manipulations
• Some sequential and concerted manipulations
• Precise control required
• Volume-dependent addition
• Multi-step manipulations

Safety Precautions:

• Eye protection required
• Gloves required
• Thermal gloves recommended
• Perform in a well-ventilated area
• ABC fire extinguisher on hand
• Absorbent material on hand
• Use of chemically resistant surface

Class: Thermochemistry,  Groups IA, IIA, and IIIB (1,2, and 13), Main Group Elements

Division: General

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