You want gas?  Mark Newell’s workshop was a blast!!

Microscale gas chemistry may not sound terribly exciting, but this workshop was an enjoyable introduction to controlled gas production and associated activities, developed by Bruce Mattson  http://mattson.creighton.edu

The techniques are simple, but ingenius; the equipment is cheap and re-usable.  Start with a 60ml plastic syringe with a silicone grease lubricated plunger.  Put a finger over the pointy end and fill with water.  Float a small plastic cap with component A on the water and take finger away, so it gently settles to the bottom, then push the plunger down to reach the cap.  Draw up solution B and shake horizontally, gently easing the plunger if needed.

A + B = C (gas)

Once approx 50ml gas produced, stop reaction by  squirting out liquid B (but keeping the gas).  Wash gas by drawing up water and shaking, before discarding the water (but keeping the gas).

What you do with the gas depends on: a) which gas, b) which year level and c) the risk assessment.

In our case, we made two sets of gas, either Hydrogen (A=Mg, B=acid) or Oxygen (A=KI, B=H₂O₂)

Using the well known reaction:    2 H₂ + O₂ = 2 H₂O  , we made carbon neutral rocket fuel.

The results were dramatic demonstrations of exothermic reactions

https://twitter.com/n_davisp/status/750201727790379008

https://twitter.com/n_davisp/status/750192487268950016

https://twitter.com/n_davisp/status/750192939276439554

Nick Davis-Poynter – Queensland University of Technology

Nick completed a Biosciences degree and PhD in the U.K. (Cambridge), before embarking upon a scientific career researching viruses of humans and animals and joining the CSIRO Scientists in Schools program. He is now studying a Graduate Diploma of Education at QUT.

After a rewarding career as a scientist, I am looking forward to embarking upon a new challenge as a Secondary School Science teacher. I was fortunate to have some excellent teachers who encouraged my love of science at school and I hope that I may be able to provide similar encouragement to my future students.

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