Pharaoh snake
Pharaoh's snake (also called pharaoh's snake or snake of the pharaoh ) describes a cylindrical or conical joke article which , when ignited, creates a rapidly swelling snake-shaped ash. Pharaoh's snakes originally contained mercury (II) thiocyanate , which is no longer used for this purpose due to its toxicity (and the mercury vapors produced when it is burned). In school experiments in secondary level I, this is used to describe a chemical experiment in which a highly porous carbon structure foamed with carbon dioxide is created in a snake shape. The experiment serves as an introduction to organic chemistry and the element carbon.
The word pharaoh snake recalls the biblical appearance of Moses , who turned his staff into a serpent.
Chemical reaction
The chemical experiment can be carried out with powdered sugar and concentrated sulfuric acid . Other sources also use sugar , ash, and denatured alcohol . One source shows an experiment with Emser pastilles and denatured alcohol, which is set on fire. The reaction is not without risk and, if not handled properly, can result in severe burns.
In all cases, as occurs reaction product of elementary carbon and gaseous reaction products which foam carbon.
The experiment can also be carried out with other chemicals.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Entry on pharaohs snakes. In: Römpp Online . Georg Thieme Verlag, accessed on June 14, 2014.
- ^ ORF: Chemical accident: students seriously injured . Retrieved November 9, 2013.
- ↑ Der Tagesspiegel: Chemistry experiment Pharaohsnake was to blame for the accident . Retrieved March 6, 2015.
- ↑ Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie, Vol. 69–70; Volume 145–146, by Justus Liebig . books.google.de. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
literature
- Jander, G., Spandau, H. (1987): Short textbook of inorganic and general chemistry , Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
