
Nuffield Foundation
These experiments are from the Practical Chemistry project, developed by the Nuffield Foundation and the Royal Society of Chemistry.
- Experiment
Colourful electrolysis
An interesting introduction to the electrolysis of brine (sodium chloride solution). Students use Universal Indicator to help them follow what is happening during the reaction.
- Experiment
The equilibrium between two coloured cobalt species
In this demonstration the equilibrium between two different coloured cobalt species is disturbed. Le Chatelier’s principle is used to predict a colour change.
- Experiment
Turning copper coins into ‘silver’ and ‘gold’
Perform what looks like alchemy with ordinary copper coins in this teacher demonstration. Includes kit list and safety instructions.
- Experiment
Extracting iron from breakfast cereal
Separate food grade metallic iron from fortified breakfast cereals by using powerful Neodymium magnets.
- Experiment
Energy content in foods
Try this class experiment to investigate how much energy different foods contain. Includes kit list and safety instructions.
- Experiment
Detecting starch in food on a microscale
In this experiment you will be testing various foods to see whether they contain starch.
- Experiment
Using indigestion tablets to neutralise an acid
Investigate and measure the neutralising effect of indigestion tablets on hydrochloric acid in this class practical. Includes kit list and safety instructions.
- Experiment
Acid or alkali? Acidic or alkaline? A litmus paper test
Test a variety of substances to see if they are acidic or alkaline, using litmus paper as the indicator. Includes kit list and safety instructions.
- Experiment
Separating sand and salt by filtering and evaporation
Try this class experiment to practise manipulating mixtures of soluble and insoluble materials by separating sand and salt. Includes kit list and safety instructions.
- Experiment
Money to burn
Surprise your students by soaking a piece of paper (or an old £5 or £10 note) in a mixture of ethanol and water and igniting it. Watch as the ethanol burns… but the paper does not.
- Experiment
Exploding bubbles of hydrogen and oxygen
Produce a small explosion in your classroom by electrolysing water then re-combining the hydrogen and oxygen gas.
- Experiment
Chemiluminescence of luminol: a cold light experiment
Show how the energy of a chemical reaction can be given out as light by revealing how a solution of sodium chlorate(I) oxidises an aqueous solution of luminol (3-aminophthalhydrazide) to produce a blue chemiluminescent glow – without any increase in temperature.
- Experiment
Cracking hydrocarbons in liquid paraffin with a catalyst
Model the industrial process of cracking larger hydrocarbons to produce smaller alkanes in this demonstration or class practical. Includes kit list and safety instructions.
- Experiment
Iron and sulfur reaction
This demonstration or class experiment shows the exothermic reaction of iron and sulphur. Includes kit list and safety instructions.
- Experiment
Turning 'red wine' into 'water'
Pour a solution of acidified potassium permanganate into a set of glasses previously laced with small amounts of colourless solutions to turn the ‘red wine’ to ‘water’ – as well as ‘milk’, ‘raspberry milk shake’ and ‘fizzy lemonade’.
- Experiment
Heating Group 1 metals in air and in chlorine
This is a demonstration that shows the reactions of Group 1 metals in air and in chlorine. It does not clearly show the trends in reactivity of Group 1 metals, which are better demonstrated by the reactions in water, which follow on well from this demonstration.
- Experiment
Ammonia fountain demonstration
Try this experiment to make a miniature chemical fountain using only soluble ammonia and atmospheric pressure. Includes kit list and safety instructions.
- Experiment
Determining relative molecular masses by weighing gases
Demonstrate how different gases can be weighed in a gas syringe and their relative molecular masses determined using the ideal gas equation.
- Experiment
Electrolysis of molten zinc chloride
Try this demonstration to show how an ionic salt will conduct electricity when molten but not when solid. Includes kit list, video and safety instructions.
- Experiment
Making a mirror using silver nitrate and sugar
Try this practical to make a mirror with your students using the reaction between silver nitrate and glucose. Includes kit list, video and safety instructions.