Christmas Science | The Northern Lights | Displacement of Copper by Aluminium

To guide Santa on is way we light up the sky with the Northern lights
This demonstration shows the displacement of copper from copper chloride by aluminium (which is higher in the reactivity series) leaving solid copper and aluminium chloride. The copper can be seen to form around the aluminium.
The acid removes the aluminium oxide layer so the reaction can take place; this will also react with the aluminium to produce hydrogen gas. This can be ignited to produce green/blue flames.

[@declankruppa8300]

Hi thank you for the interesting experiment. You start with 200ml of water and 20ml of conc HCl. If conc HCl is 11.3M, then when you mix the water and acid together you get a 1.027M solution. So for the purposes of this experiment, you can use 220 ml of 1M acid as your starting solution, which is much more user friendly for the less experienced

[@pokeboi984]

Ah - Aurora Borealis?? A this time of year, at this time of day, in this part of the country, localized ENTIRELY in your lab??

[@sam1127x]

this is just a colored flame, doesn't really show the aurora borealis at all.

[@sahasskrthisatyanarayanan8516]

how much of copper 2 cloride

[@kayliefromkalopsia]

what is the chemical equation for this

[@kaustavchakraborty8379]

Lol...what are u..a kid😂

[@pabitramallick7783]

good

[@discombobulatedgaming7366]

Hi just a quick comment, the Conc HCL Acid you are using clearly shows that it is corrosive, you as a technician and under Cleapss guidelines on health and safety, should be wearing gloves when handling corrosive chemicals. It only takes one slip-up to turn into a hazard that could possibly lead to injury. Just some advice, thank you. P.S love the informative videos, keep up the good work!

[@whizzkid11k]

Or if you had any actual knowledge of handling acids, you would know that it's not common practice to wear gloves, because it's easier to just wash the acid off with copious water.

[@discombobulatedgaming7366]

@@whizzkid11k I work as a senior technician and have worked in a inorganic laboratory I'm pritty sure I know how to handle corrosive chemicals. What you said applies to diluted acids and alkalis that if in contact with your skin its better to not wear gloves and wash it off but using concentrated corrosive acids/alkali you must wear gloves. If you don't wear gloves you are liable for all damages and are in breach of health and safety regulations. I don't think the HSE would be too pleased. Do your research mate before commenting.

[@trevorquinnell8515]

We got same last name matey

[@kaustavchakraborty8379]

This was legit a waste of my time... what bullshit! Aurora borealis/Australis is an electromagnetic phenomenon...if this vid was to be recommend...it shud have been somewhere else...man i was looking for electronic experiment...tho...nice job there dude...simple displacement reaction, use of reactivity series,good for high schoolers!