Chemiluminescent Ammonia Fountain

An inverted round bottom, stoppered flask with fluorescent blue liquid is connected to an orange bulb and glass tube attached to a Y-connector. The Y-connector is attached to two tubes, with each end of the tube placed in a flask. The flask on the right contains more clear liquid than the left flask contains. The inverted flask is held by a ring stand.
Description: A standard ammonia fountain, but one in which two solutions from the standard luminol reaction are drawn from separate flasks. When the solutions mix, the fountain luminesces.
Source: Journal of Chemical Education
Year: 1990 Vol: 67 Page: 339
Keywords: Luminol, Ammonia, Vacuum, Chemiluminescence, Solubility
Rating:
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Hazard: Medium
- Inhalation hazard
- Acute toxicity hazard
- Flammability hazard
- Skin corrosion hazard
- Eye damage hazard
- Aquatic toxicity hazard
- Implosion hazard
Effectiveness: Excellent
- Spectacular effects are seen by audience
- Deeply engaging to audience
- Good connection to course material
- Clear contrast between behavior of systems
- Counterintuitive effects
- Time to results is low
- Medium/low failure rate
Difficulty: Low
- Simple procedures
- Simple manipulations for most to perform
Safety Precautions:
- Eye protection required
- Gloves required
- Absorbent material on hand
- Preform in a well-ventilated area
- Sodium bicarbonate on hand
Class: Solubility, Properties of Solutions, Acids and Bases
Division: General
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