My chemistry teacher gave us a closed container of mixed chemicals and told the class to shake it and as each one of us did so, the chemical inside started to change it's color and as time went by the chemical kept changing different colors...does anybody know what was in it and how does it work?
2006-08-17 13:18:57 · 7 answers · asked by SICK MY DUCK! 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
My chemistry teacher gave us a closed container of mixed chemicals and told the class to shake it and as each one of us did so, the chemical inside started to change it's color and as time went by the chemical kept changing different colors...does anybody know what was in it and how does it work?
For everyone that keeps asking why my teacher didn't teach us; He said it would take the entire course of chemistry to understand what was going on in the flask and I was just curious and couldn't wait! lol
2006-08-17 22:27:14 · update #1
This is called the "stoplight reaction." Stoplight reaction – 0.05% Methyl red, yello, thymol blue, bromomethyl blue in ethanol. Go from basic to acid.
There are variations on this reaction. I remember doing one years and years ago, and it was based on the oxidation of dextrose in the presence of pH indicators. Shaking the flask oxygenated the solution. More shaking = more color change. If the flask was left to sit undisturbed, it would gradually (20 minutes or so) return the the original color. Eventually the color changes became more sluggish and all together stopped working after either the dextrose or oxygen was all used up (the latter could be remedied by opening the bottle and refreshing the air in the head space of the flask).
2006-08-17 18:29:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dextrose(sugar), sodium hydroxide,and indigo carmine. It started as the color yellow then we shook it and it went to red. We shook it again and it changed to green. The chemicals in the mixture give off both gas and mixing features which cause the colors to change from on to the next based on the continous movement.
2006-08-17 20:27:56 · answer #2 · answered by ken473 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So this Chemistry teacher just shows you something and doesn't "teach" the class anything about it?
2006-08-17 20:25:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was most likely a some type of color indicator, changing in response to varied ph/ Hydrogen concentraion.
2006-08-17 20:24:16 · answer #4 · answered by Evasive tactics 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ken is right. There are other similar "chemical clock" reactions. One involves starch, sodium bisulfide and potassium iodate.
2006-08-17 20:31:21 · answer #5 · answered by Kitiany 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
neon
2006-08-17 20:22:44 · answer #6 · answered by NIKKI K 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can I please ask why u didnt ask your teacher, then?
2006-08-18 00:46:19 · answer #7 · answered by PUTT 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋