In this video we show you how to levitate pencil lead.
In a previous video we showed that pyrolytic graphite was diamagnetic, it was repelled by magnetic field, and that this repulsion was strong enough to levitate it.
Now pyrolytic graphite is expensive so a cheaper alternative is to use very thin pencil lead. Not all pencil lead works so you need to first test it by placing it on a table and approaching it from the side with a magnet. If the lead moves away, then it's diamagnetic, if it moves toward then it's paramagnetic and can't be used.
The pencil lead must also be thin, a very thick pencil lead will be too heavy for the effect to work.
In this video we use Potassium Permanganate to start fires.
Potassium Permanganate will directly react with various fuels like glycerol, PEG-based brake fluid, and antifreeze, to start fires. All you have to do is mix them.
For less reactive fuels like gasoline and mineral oil. It can be mixed and then a few drops of sulfuric acid added to create manganese heptoxide which is a powerful oxidant and will itself ignite most fuels.
Related videos:
The science of flaming brake fluid and pool chlorine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSNPtuAcTm0
I obtained my Potassium Permanganate here: https://amzn.to/2XAWxdB
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S5HcClXRKs
I this video I replace the elements in my hotplate stirrers and i show you how to resurface the covers.
Where i bought my heaters: panshineheater.com
NOTE: Like most manufacturers they only sell cheap in bulk and single unit quantities are extremely expensive. Only use them if you're buying 30+ or so.
Related Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBvSSP8Y4ZU -- I need your help! Broken hotplates
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqzjHgY2Zpk
We show an interesting commercially available toy that is the highest magnetic levitation device we've seen so far
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMVtlNbMwHw
We show how to make Zinc powder by electrochemistry.
Glassware generously provided by http://www.alchemylabsupply.com/
Use the discount code "copper" for a 5% discount.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X9c6epL7HQ
In this video we show Safety Matches lit with Sulfuric acid.
Concentrated sulfuric acid found in drain cleaner may be used. What's happening is the sulfuric acid reacts with potassium chlorate to produce chloric acid. Chloric acid is extremely reactive and will spontaneously set flammable materials on fire.
This video was produced on collaboration with "What will happen if" Youtube channel. You can find their video here: https://youtu.be/P95H7pRLF3w
If you have time, check out their channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeIG0bZ1bk64WGq6oRKC10w
Glassware generously provided by http://www.alchemylabsupply.com/
Use the discount code "nurdrage" for a 5% discount.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc3U2P9PlXY
Some lab notes for the month of august 2020
I was exploring more nitric acid and wanted to see if calcium nitrate and sodium bisulfate would be viable. The rationale is that the reaction of calcium nitrate and sulfuric acid is well-known but almost never done directly since it produces insoluble calcium sulphate that solidifies into a rock in the flask. It has to be drilled out and risks break the flask. The traditional way to use calcium nitrate is the "wet process" where we first mix it with water and then add sulfuric acid. The calcium sulfate precipitates out and the dilute nitric acid is filtered and purified by distillation. This is slow and laborious so i was wondering if sodium bisulfate could be advantageous in producing a residue that didn't need to be drilled. This would save time and less risk of breaking glassware.
So i mixed 49g of calcium ammonium nitrate decahydrate with 150g of sodium bisulfate monohydrate and heated it directly in the "dry process" of making nitric acid. Nitric acid was distilled over and the yield was 85%. But more importantly the solid residue of sodium sulfate, sodium bisulfate and calcium sulfate was soluble. Upon addition of water it dissolved into a slurry that could easily be poured out. So i think the process is superior to using sulfuric acid as there is overall less labor involved.
For thoroughness i also tried the wet process by first dissolving the calcium nitrate in 50mL of water and adding sodium bisulfate. After distillation the yield was 95% but with 50mL of extra water diluting it. Personally i prefer higher concentration acid and don't mind the lower yields of the dry process.
Anyway. I was going to do additional nitric acid experiments but my hotplate failed.
Turns out the temperature sensor failed open and the safety limit of the hotplate refused to turn it on. It was a simple matter of finding the broken sensor and replacing it. The interesting note is that the hotplate uses a PT1000 RTD and it seemed the original was spot welded in. I didn't have spot welding capability so i used copper foil to crimp the connection.
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Through Bitcoin: 1NurdRAge7PNR4ULrbrpcYvc9RC4LDp9pS
Glassware generously provided by http://www.alchemylabsupply.com/
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa2OMNaHn_Y
In this video we make a chemiluminescent reaction that is activated by a vapor.
The reaction is very easy to perform: Mix 3mL of dimethyl phthalate, 3mg of fluorescent dye such as rubrene, and 3mL of hydrogen peroxide (30%) and shake. Let the mixture separate and apply the bottom dimethyl phthalate to a surface. Then pass oxalyl chloride vapors over the surface.
The oxalyl chloride vapor will react with the chemicals to produce a strong chemiluminescent glow that will last for a few seconds.
Related videos:
Make glow sticks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tItOOpyJP5k
Ghost metal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDMgrgSVjd8
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im_2OIs_mns
In this video we make the ancestor to modern matches before phosphorus: The Promethean Match
The operating principle is that sulfuric acid would react with potassium chlorate and sugar to catch fire. So to turn it into a match, the sulfuric acid was stored in a glass capsule that was broken and mixed with potassium chlorate and sugar. This would ignite and set fire to the paper roll it was packaged in.
Related video: Lighting Matches with Acid - https://youtu.be/oc3U2P9PlXY
Donate to NurdRage!
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkZqQfmTD00
We pit Jacob Black from Twilight against our favorite oxidizer Potassium Chlorate.
Interestingly enough, the plastic he's made out of is highly resistant to the oxidizing conditions of the potassium chlorate. So Jacob actually wins this battle. But we still want to see him in flames so we mix some sugar into the chlorate to turn it into a flaming inferno.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk3TIIm-Ipc