Bromination of Saturated and Unsaturated Hydrocarbons
Dehydration of Sugar by Sulfuric Acid
Organic Synthesis With Familiar Material
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 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
Underwater Fireworks: Chlorination of Acetylene
Description: Chlorine gas is generated from bleach + HCl in a flask. The chlorine gas is bubbled into the bottom of a cylinder of water to which calcium carbide is added. Flashes of light are given off in the cylinder where the acetylene bubbles and chlorine bubbles react. A second version reacts at the surface of the mixture, producing a retort and carbon.
Source: Flinn Scientific Inc (catalog)
Year: 1994 Vol: N/A Page: 12
Keywords: Acetylene, Chlorine, Calcium Carbide, Bleach, Addition reaction
Rating: 
Hazard: High
- Acute toxicity hazard
- Inhalation hazard
- Flammability hazard
- Skin corrosion hazard
- Explosion hazard
- Corrosive to metals
- Short and long-term aquatic toxicity hazard
- Serious eye damage
- Oxidizing gases
Effectiveness: Excellent
- Behavior of system contrast is obvious
- Good connection from demo to course material
- Time to results is very low
- Strong effects are seen by audience
- Good reliability
Difficulty: High
- Adding reagents in concerted or timed manipulation
- Generation of toxic gases or reagents
- Procedures with some intermediate steps to results
- Handling of organic chemicals
- Prior training recommended
Safety Precautions:
- Eye protection required
- Gloves required
- Perform in a well-ventilated area
- Downdraft hood required
- ABC fire extinguisher on hand
- Sodium bicarbonate on hand
- Perform in chemically resistant surface
- Absorbent material on hand
- Hearing protection recommended
- Prevent release of reagents to the environment
- Avoid flames and explosive effects during presentation
Class: Organic Chemistry
Division: General, Organic Chemistry
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