(OK, please do not kid around now.. I'm being serious. The nail was not dirty(!))
I boiled a finger nail in NaOH for a while. It turned a bit more yellow than it was before. Then I added lead ions and the solution turned greyish-black! Why did that happen (chemically speaking)?
2007-02-07 04:38:45 · 4 answers · asked by maj 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
I suspect that the NaOH solution partially dissolved the surface proteins of the finger nail.
Adding the lead then led to a colorful chelate. There is evidence the lead has been used in the identification of organic compounds:
http://aob.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/22/1/127
2007-02-07 04:51:29 · answer #1 · answered by Dr Dave P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe the human nail didn't have anything to do with the reaction. because, human nails are basically calcium and maybe some phosphorus. but thing is, u didn't actually increase the surface area of the nail (by crushing it into a powder) or u didn't put lots of human nails in (which would hav increased the concentration of the calcium and phosphorus in the reaction) so most likely (even though u did boil it, i grant u that) no reaction occured between ur nail and the NaOH. the NaOH only reacted with the lead sulphate.
u should do something else with your time......
next u'll be asking about human hair in reactions!
he he he ;^)
2007-02-07 13:09:21 · answer #2 · answered by amandac 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Had nothing to do with the finger nail.
reaction between the lead and NaOH
2007-02-07 12:42:17 · answer #3 · answered by Grant d 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It sounds like lead(II) sulphide, PbS, to me.
2007-02-07 12:45:40 · answer #4 · answered by Gervald F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋