Coin Operated Red, White, and Blue Fountain: Reaction of Nitric Acid and Copper
Description: Nitric acid plus copper gives nitric acid oxide in an exothermic reaction. The expanding gas displaces water from another flask; when the gas cools, the water is drawn back into the flask, dissolving the nitric oxide and forming a blue solution with the remaining copper ions.
Source: Shakhashiri, B.Z. Chemical Demonstrations: A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry
Year: 1989 Vol. 3 Page 83
Keywords: Nitric acid, Exothermic, Rube-Goldberg, Copper, Nitric oxide
Rating: 
Hazard: High
- Acute toxicity hazard
- Production of toxic gas
- Inhalation hazard
- Skin corrosion hazard
- Aquatic toxicity hazard
- Mutagenicity hazard
- Corrosive to metals
Effectiveness: Average
- Low reliability
- Time to results is high
- Some connection from demo to course material
- Mild effects are seen by audience
- Primary and secondary effects are observed
Difficulty: Medium
- Coordinated addition of reagents
- System must be pressure-tight
- Prior training recommended
- Some intermediate steps to results
- Some sequential manipulations
Safety Precautions:
- Downdraft hood or fume hood recommended
- Perform in a well-ventilated area
- Eye protection required
- Gloves required
- Lab coat recommended
- Chemically inert surface required
- Sodium bicarbonate on hand
- Absorbent material on hand
Class: Redox, Gas Producing Reactions, Acids and Bases
Division: General
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