Bromination of Saturated and Unsaturated Hydrocarbons
Dehydration of Sugar by Sulfuric Acid
Organic Synthesis with Familiar Materials
Oxidation of Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Alcohols
Underwater Fireworks: Chlorination of Acetylene
Differences in Miscibility of Organic Alcohols With Increasing Chain Length
Combustion of Cellulose (Guncotton)
Different Smells of Carvone Isomers
Distinguishing Between HD and LD Polyethylene
Enviro-bond: Cleaning Oil Spills
Esterification Using a Dean-Stark Trap
IR Demonstration I – Atomic Coupling
IR Demonstration II – Molecular Vibrations
IR Demonstration III – Molecular Vibrations
Making a Rubber Ball from Latex
Reaction Intermediates in Organic Chemistry
Reducing Sugars and Fehling’s Solution
Rod Climbing by a Polymer Solution
Superabsorbent Polyacrylate Gel
Aniline Hydrochloride-Formaldehyde Polymer
Relative Reactivity of Reducing Agents
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution Reaction/EAS Reaction
Reactivity of Alkanes vs Aromatic Compounds
Optical Activity of Racemic Mixtures With Limonene
Relationship of Absorbed Light to Observed Color
Density and Miscibility of Liquids
Extraction of Copper Ions from Solution With Orform®
Gel Formation with Sodium Alginate and Calcium Chloride
Hydrolysis of T-Butyl Chloride: A Lecture and Lab Experiment
Blue Bottle
Description: A bottle half-full of a colorless liquid is shaken and turns blue. On standing undisturbed, the blue color fades. The cycle may be repeated several times. Other colors can be produced by substituting other indicators for the methylene blue commonly used.
This demonstration is also available on JCE “Chemistry Comes Alive!” Vol 3 CD-Rom
Source: Shakhashiri, B.Z. Chemical Demonstrations: A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry.
Year: 1985 Volume: 2 Page: 142
Keywords: Blue Bottle, Oxygen, Methylene Blue, Oxidation
Rating: 
Hazards: Some
- Skin corrosion hazard
- Spill hazard
- Acute toxicity hazard
- Short term aquatic toxicity hazard
- Corrosive to metals
- Serious eye damage
Effectiveness: Good
- Some connection from demo to course material
- Good contrast of system behavior
- Time to results is low
- Good reliability
- Repeatable phenomenon
- Mild effects are seen by audience
- Secondary effects are observed
Difficulty: Low
- Simple procedures
- Simple manipulations for most to perform
Safety Precautions:
- Eye protection required
- Gloves required
- Absorbent materials on hand
- Sodium bicarbonate on hand
- Prevent release of reagents to the environment
Class: Acid Base Chemistry, Redox Reactions
Division: General, Organic Chemistry
The demonstration Blue Bottle may be found under Matter and Mixtures- Blue Bottle.
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