Everyone enjoys seeing the cloudy white fog generated when solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) is placed in water. Have you ever wondered what physical and chemical processes occur to produce this fog? When asked this question, many chemical educators suggest that the fog is produced when atmospheric water vapor condenses on cold carbon dioxide gas…

An educational demonstration shows the combustion of carbon to carbon dioxide and then the reduction of carbon dioxide to carbon. A melee diamond is the source of the carbon and the reaction is carried out in a closed flask. The demonstration helps students to realize that diamonds are made of carbon and that atoms do not change or vanish in…

This article describes a simple and inexpensive "shock and awe" classroom demonstration for understanding the importance of carbon dioxide (CO[subscript 2]) in acid-base regulation. Before class, a solution was prepared by adding sodium bicarbonate and universal indicator solution to a sample of distilled water contained in a standard…

The nature of acidic and basic (alkaline) oxides can be easily illustrated via a series of three straightforward classroom demonstrations for high school and general chemistry courses. Properties of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and magnesium oxide are revealed inexpensively and safely. Additionally, the very different kinetics of hydration of…

Misconceptions of siphon action include assumptions that intermolecular attractions play a key role and that siphons will operate in a vacuum. These are belied by the siphoning of gaseous carbon dioxide and behaviour of siphons under reduced pressure. These procedures are suitable for classroom demonstrations. The principles of siphon action are…

This article describes the use of a comprehensive demonstration suitable for a high school or first-year undergraduate introductory chemistry class. The demonstration involves placing a burning candle in a container adjacent to a beaker containing a basic solution with indicator. After adding a lid, the candle will extinguish and the produced…

Easily recoverable, thumb-sized pieces of high-density dry ice are conveniently produced by deposition of carbon dioxide within a test tube submerged in liquid nitrogen. A carbon dioxide-filled balloon sealed over the mouth of the test tube serves as a gas reservoir, and further permits a dramatic demonstration of both the gas-to-solid phase…

Potassium dioxide, KO[subscript 2], (potassium superoxide) is an important compound owing to its ability to react with carbon dioxide to produce oxygen. This unique ability is employed to design rebreathing devices for submarines, space vehicles, and space suits. "Rebreathers" for firefighters and miners have also been designed using potassium…

Discusses the properties of carbon dioxide in its solid "dry ice" stage. Suggests several demonstrations and experiments that use dry ice to illustrate Avogadro's Law, Boyle's Law, Kinetic-Molecular Theory, and the effects of dry ice in basic solution, in limewater, and in acetone. (TW)

Describes an experiment to induce carbon dioxide deficiency to demonstrate its effects on plant growth. Suggests further studies to examine respiration by soil microbes and the effects of relative humidity, other gases, and air pollution on plant growth. (MDH)

Presents a buffer demonstration which features visualization of the effects of carbon dioxide on pH. Background information, list of materials needed, procedures used, and a discussion of results obtained are included. (JN)

Describes two experiments using carbon dioxide cartridges to demonstrate Newton's third law of motion. (JR)

Describes a rocket propulsion demonstration utilizing a child's wagon and a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher. (CP)

Suggests examining population density to help students understand density as a chemical concept. Simple experiments and demonstrations with carbon dioxide, burning oil, natural gas, and temperature are also suggested. (DH)

Described is a physics experiment in which carbon dioxide cartridges mounted on a wheel with a spark timer can be utilized to measure the energy release of the cartridges. (SL)