Tender feelings for science can be experienced not only by those who love to study, but also by connoisseurs of beauty and wonder. Chemistry is an exact science through which a person learns the world. It is multifaceted and quite interesting, especially if you omit long research and immediately see the result.
The article briefly describes the most incredible chemical reactions and provides information about them.
Reaction one: sodium and H2O, gaseous chlorine
The instructions are simple: add one drop of water to sodium and gas, and the performance will begin. What should the person producing the reaction see, what should he feel? With this, everything is quite simple: firstly, a lot of heat will be released, which means that the temperature in the flask will rise. Secondly, the solution will emit a uniform yellow light. This experiment is one of the most unusual chemical reactions.
Why is this happening? The main element of the reaction is sodium. Due to its natural flammability, it is often used in street lighting. The reaction itself is harmless because when chlorine andsodium chloride, better known to ordinary people as common table s alt, which can be found in any kitchen.
Reaction two: dry ice and magnesium
What is dry ice? It's frozen carbon dioxide. It is very often used in various experiments at home, when filming movies and clips with stars. When it enters a warm environment or water, the substance begins to smoke and gives a kind of fog effect, which in itself is already a beautiful chemical reaction.
The second component is magnesium, a highly flammable substance by nature. Initially, after the discovery of this property, it was used as a flash for cameras, but later it began to be used as a composition responsible for ignition.
The reaction itself goes like this: magnesium is enclosed in a kind of cage made of carbon dioxide, and since it is able to burn both in it and in nitrogen, the process begins. There are few external special effects, but everything looks as if the ice is burning from the inside, and besides, dry ice evaporates in the form of fog.
Third reaction: sweets and bertolet s alt
Potassium chlorate is an element that can be found not only in fireworks, but also in the field of disinfection. The substance itself is a compound of the three elements of the Mendeleev system: oxygen, potassium and chlorine. When heated to a temperature at which the s alt begins to melt, any contact with the substance provokes an explosion, as a result of which a gas is released - oxygen. This kinda beautiful chemical reaction is used where access to air is completely or partially blocked, for example, in submarines or space stations.
In addition to the heat and gas released during the reaction, one can also observe a visual effect - a column of flame. When you reproduce the experiment, for example, with a piece of sugar, you will get a fairly strong flame, a small explosion, and outwardly it will all look like the sweetness itself is burning.
Reaction Four: The Meissner Effect
This experiment is carried out quite often, not only in higher educational institutions, but even in secondary schools, if, of course, equipment and supplies allow. To conduct an experiment, you need a superconductor, a cooler and a magnet. Upon cooling to a temperature below the transition temperature, the superconductor will begin to actively repel any magnetic field. Outwardly, it will look like an object hovering over a magnet.
Such reactions are used in a new generation of transport, completely free from friction between wheels and rails. This discovery was the beginning of a new round of development of transport technologies.
Reaction Four: Superabsorbent Polymers
Despite the fact that this particular thing is now known to everyone, it is still worth paying a little attention to it. Superabsorbent polymers (popularly known as hydrogels) are capable of absorbing an enormous amount of water compared to their own weight.
Today, this beautiful chemical reaction can be carried out at home, since hydrogel granules are sold almost forevery step. It is very interesting for many adults and children to watch how the granules grow in size.
In production, a similar substance is used in the manufacture of diapers for children or in those areas where high-quality protection against water associated with its absorption is required.
Reaction number five: sulfur hexafluoride
At its core, this substance is a gas that is much heavier than air. It can be poured into a container and send any light object to the voyage. It is worth noting that the gas is non-toxic, non-flammable and completely colorless and odorless, which creates the illusion that objects are floating in the air.
In addition to all other properties, this gas has one feature: when it is inhaled, the timbre of a person's voice becomes lower, which is directly opposite to the influence of helium.
Reaction six: Helium cooling
The property of helium to change a person's voice, raising its timbre, has already been mentioned, but there is another, more interesting one. When helium is cooled to a temperature of -271 on the Celsius scale, the gas is compressed to a liquid state. But this is not the most interesting. It is in this state that the gas begins to perform the miracles of science, the most beautiful chemical reactions are in many ways inferior to this phenomenon. And the bottom line is that the liquid formed by helium behaves absolutely unusual: it can move up, despite the gravity of the earth. Another interesting property of helium in this state is superfluidity, that is, it can pass through the smallest tubes and holes.
Reaction seven:Briggs-Rauscher
Whatever you say, it is she who takes the leading place in the nomination "The most beautiful chemical reaction". All its beauty lies in the visual color effects. Upon completion of the preparation of the solution, initially colorless, phenomenal color changes begin to occur. First, the liquid acquires a beautiful amber hue, then it becomes dark blue at an accelerated pace, after which it returns to its original state, then repeats all the changes in a circle several times, until the reaction is completely attenuated. The reason for the circular color change is that during the initial reaction, substances are released that provoke the next, and so on in a circle.
Of course, these are not all the most beautiful chemical reactions in the world. There is still a huge variety of interesting and unusual processes that can surprise even the most inveterate skeptic. Some of them can be done right at home, some - only in the laboratory. But no one will argue with the fact that chemistry is an interesting science.
