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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