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 Nitrate (Guncotton)
Different Smells of Carvone Isomers
Distinguishing 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
Optical Activity of Racemic Mixtures With Limonene
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution Reaction/EAS Reaction
Reactivity of Alkanes vs Aromatic Compounds
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
Carbide Lamp
Description: An antique carbide lamp is filled with calcium carbide and water in two different chambers. When water is dripped into the calcium carbide chamber, acetylene is produced, and the lamp is lit. The flame size is regulated by the amount of water flowing into the chamber.
Source: UW Card Catalog
Year: N/A Vol: N/A Page: N/A
Keywords: Calcium carbide, Water, Acetylene, Lamp, Combustion
Ratings: 
Hazard: Some
- Flammability hazard
- Serious eye damage
- Skin irritation
- Respiratory toxicity hazard
- Solids that produce flammable gases when wet
- Short-term aquatic toxicity hazard
- Explosion hazard
Effectiveness: Good
- Good connection from demo to course material
- Results are clearly observable with guidance
- Moderate failure rate
- Mild effects are seen by audience
- Time to results is low
Difficulty: Medium
- Some concerted manipulations required
- Prior training recommended
- Simple procedures
- Demos in which toxic or explosive reagents are in use
Safety Precautions:
- Eye protection required
- Gloves required
- ABC fire extinguisher on hand
- Perform in a well-ventilated area
- No flammable materials near demo
- Prevent release of reagent to the environment
Class: Organic Chemistry, Alkyne Chemistry, Combustion
Division: General
Return to General Chemistry Demonstrations