So, you want to do a “Magic Show!” Student Presenter Packet for y-chem Outreach Program (10/11/2014)

□ Collapsing can

• 
  When we boil water inside the canister, water vapor is displacing air. In addition, the water vapor is hot. When the can is stoppered, and the water vapor is cooled from steam to water. There are now fewer molecules pushing on the inside of the container than on the outside of the container from atmospheric pressure.
  

• 
  Put on the orange heat gloves. Stopper the can very well. Pound it a bit, but don’t hurt your hand. Quickly but carefully stand on it to show that it is strong.
  
• 
  Be careful if the gloves are wet. Wet gloves are not good thermal protection from hot objects.
  

□ Methanol Cannons

• 
  Combustion - this is a similar reaction to what happens in your car
  
• 
  Fuel and oxygen are mixed, but they don’t react until you provide energy
  

• 
  Put the methanol in, and then stare at the cannons, waiting for something to happen.
  
• 
  Ask why nothing happens
  
• 
  Explain that you have to provide the energy to start the reaction.
  
• 
  Turning out the lights can accentuate the flash from the cannons.
  

□ Flaming Tornado (12’ ceilings required)

• 
  Combustion is a chemical reaction
  
• 
  The methanol is reacting with the oxygen in the air to produce water, carbon dioxide, and heat.
  
• 
  Oxygen from the air is required for the reaction. O₂ is drawn through the screen which causes the flame to spin in the horizontal direction. At the same time, the reaction is producing heat, which causes the product gases to rise; this is vertical component of this spectacular demonstration.
  

• 
  Light the methanol, but do not turn the hand crank.
  
• 
  Act like it’s the coolest thing that you’ve ever seen, and wait for someone to say “That’s boring!” Then start it up.
  
• 
  Turn out the lights to enhance the splendor.
  

Miscellaneous

□ Discharge lamps

• 
  Electricity is exciting the electrons to higher energy levels – atomic spectra discussion
  

• 
  Be careful to hold the discharge tubes by the bulbous part, but not the metal end of the tube. You could be shocked if you forget to turn off the power supply when changing bulbs! Also, be careful the bulbs get quite hot during use.
  

□ Elephants Toothpaste

• 
  The graduated cylinder contains H₂O₂ which is already reaction, but very slowly
  
• 
  When you add a catalyst, it speeds up the reaction.
  

• 
  Tell the students that there’s a reaction going on in the graduated cylinder. Ask them if they can see it, and then point out that they can’t see it because it’s too slow.