Dissolving Coins in Nitric Acid - Periodic Table of Videos

We put Nitric Acid through its paces, including dissolving coins. More links and info in full description ↓↓↓
Featuring Sir Martyn Poliakoff and Neil Barnes.
See some previous acid videos: bit.ly/AcidVideos
Videos on all 118 elements: bit.ly/118elements
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From the School of Chemistry at The University of Nottingham: bit.ly/NottChem
This episode was also generously supported by The Gatsby Charitable Foundation
Periodic Videos films are by video journalist Brady Haran: www.bradyharan.com/
Brady's Blog: www.bradyharanblog.com
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[@swebigmac100]

im so glad the Professor is healthy and well.

[@Neffers_UK]

Me too. He is quite remarkable isn't he? Polite and quaint.

[@conween]

i love this man

[@adampiech7143]

Aye, same :)

[@SG6002]

We all are😁

[@GuaranaMontana]

Why shouldnt he be?

[@farrela3620]

The Professor's so polite that rather than 'ordering' Neil to do stuff for him, he always 'persuaded' Neil.

[@mateuszcielas3362]

@Paolo G wht accident?

[@hexagon_is_best_shape]

@Paolo G what?

[@Archiekunst]

I bet he cannot be 'ordered' to do anything coz unions.

[@jimsvideos7201]

I think the bigger challenge would be holding Neil back if he wanted to try something.

[@luckyrashes]

They're coworkers, they both work for the Uni

[@electronicsNmore]

I'd be willing to bet that many viewers enjoy your videos way more than any chemistry class in school. :-)

[@xthukuh]

I dropped chemistry because the teacher was horrible. Am enjoying these more and its even more fun when I can afford to buy chemicals

[@Danikkanamesg]

My chemistry class uses these videos for learning the PTOE and how it works.

[@hop-skip-ouch8798]

That's an easy bet isn't it.

[@leogama3422]

School chemistry was nice, but Periodic Videos is a lot more fun

[@TD_JR]

I did well in high school chem - had to take it again in college for science credits and still did well enough to carry a B even though I was an IT major at the time. Always been fascinated by chemistry since I was a kid - just has that feel of practical magic.

[@lucromel]

Parents: "Meh, he's a Chemist, he's bound to be weird colours from time to time."

[@pvic6959]

i bet theyre really proud that he looks like a true mad scientist. the guy is exactly what I thought a scientist looked like when I was 10 LOLOL

[@gsmontag]

I'm so glad the Professor is reading Ignition! That is such a fantastic book, and as a fan of rocket engines I really hope you explore more of the ideas in it. I don't expect to see any experimental videos on FOOF or the other super dangerous and exotic propellants but perhaps you can discuss it?

[@donaldasayers]

I read it in the sixth form at school 42 years ago, I couldn't remember the name of the book, it took me 35 years to track it down and then I had to wait til the new edition to be able to afford a copy.

[@sceptre1067]

loved the book, and it’s dry humor.

[@zchris13]

@@donaldasayers it's available as a pdf

[@chelarestelar]

Neil so fearless he's recording right next to the aniline-nitric reaction without a cover for the GoPro

[@periodicvideos]

It's not his GoPro!!!!!

[@jackielinde7568]

@@periodicvideos Are you saying Neil plays fast and loose with other people's GoPros?

[@user-ro9zf9kz1h]

@@periodicvideos please don't do it, this is considered illegal action according to the bank note act 1928.

[@recordeer8282]

@@user-ro9zf9kz1h Where for? It's only illegal in the US if you get caught.

[@micha_el_]

@@user-ro9zf9kz1h I'm pretty sure this bank note act extends only to banknotes. However the coinage act 1971 does state that it's an offence to destroy a coin.

[@barryg41]

As a mechanic working at a nitric acid plant back in the 80's, having yellow tipped fingers was part of the job. Everybody knew what unit you were assigned to work. Nice video thanks for the memories! 😃

[@196Stefan2]

11:37 "Professor, is Nitric Acid dangerous?" "No, not at all! The warning signs on the bottle for a corrosive, toxic and oxydizing compound are there only for fun"

[@notxbox5115]

He should have asked, how dangerous is nitric acid?

[@sabinav7218]

2:29 "But its always satisfying when something you read in a book actually happens"😍

[@emmepombar3328]

I thought the same while reading the papers of the Manhattan project.

[@amroenirosyada8142]

Sure 😍

[@dbockcac]

fun variation- In college we used American quarters and dimes and fuming Nitric acid which ate the copper from inside the coin leaving a thin coin shell.

[@RandyJames22]

Did you have to prepare the coins ahead of time for the acid to reach the copper?

[@dbockcac]

@@RandyJames22 no, the copper is exposed on the edges, the timing was more difficult- there was a very brief moment between hollow coin and fully dissolved coin. There were many failures.

[@tarmaque]

Note that the book _Ignition!: An Informal History of Liquid Rocket Propellants_ was first published in 1972 and was legendarily difficult or impossible to find. Fortunately, it was re-published in 2018 and remains available. Recommended.

[@alexpotts6520]

It sort of gained this cult following so it makes sense it would be reprinted.

[@emmepombar3328]

It's also available as pdf.

[@champagnerocker]

After hearing so much about it I got a copy last year. It is the most entertaining book i've ever read that has some real chemistry in. A gripping page turner.

[@handpaper6871]

I was wondering what rock the professor has been hiding under that he hadn't heard of it.

[@emanueleronchetti8213]

I think that I'll come to the Nottingham university when I finish High School!

[@periodicvideos]

See you here!

[@Christopher-N]

They probably issue gallium tea spoons to unsuspecting recruits. Science isn't all text work. :)

[@BackYardScience2000]

I've never clicked a video notification so fast in all my life. Finally, my periodic table of videos fix! Oh how I've missed you. ❤️

[@periodicvideos]

Thanks for having notifications on for us!

[@BackYardScience2000]

@@periodicvideos you're very welcome! Thank you for continuing to help further so many peoples self education!

[@PopeLando]

I had to wait even longer. When my notification came through, KZbin wasn't working! 😱

[@BackYardScience2000]

@@PopeLando I heard about that. My condolences. 😔

[@MartiniComedian]

"The temperature nearly doubled, from 50C to 100C" Kelvin spinning in his grave creating unlimited free energy 😂

[@UCapdo2lj2Av-r57nhYMZLyQ]

I was thinking, that's not how logarithms work...

[@666Tomato666]

yeah, shame Sir Martyn used the everyday weather interpretation of temperature in chemistry...

[@ChristmasEve777]

Right, double 50C would be, let's see 323.15 * 2 = 646.3 K or 373.15 C. So 100C isn't NEARLY double....

[@reinatr4848]

@@UCapdo2lj2Av-r57nhYMZLyQ it's not a logarithmic unit. It's just that 50°C is like 323.16 K, and 100°C is like 373.16 K. Kelvin is the absolute unit of temperature.

[@kensurrency2564]

Tesla would approve.

[@theRealPlaidRabbit]

The little wink from Neil at 6:12 made my day. But you know that tuppence could have been cautiously, patiently, prudently invested in the bank!

[@Paksusuoli95]

Ignition is a very good book and the author really has a way with words. Every chemist should read it.

[@w6wdh]

What were those passages in Ignition that remain stuck in my mind? “An aluminum - fluorine fire is a sight to see. From a distance.” “We were eating lunch in the lab. A beaker started to smoke. ‘Whose is that?’ we asked, while diving under the benches.”

[@jamesbecker7175]

Wonder if the Professor knows about Nile Red? He did the Nitric Acid “rocket” last year....

[@talkingdot]

see I am wondering if that is where they got it from as well... lol

[@nathanielthomas4437]

It's directly explored in the book Ignition! by John D. Clark. I expect both of then got it from there.

[@raykewin3608]

And the award for Best Book Shelf In A Pandemic goes to.....................

[@jim1550]

I love the disheveled and almost haphazard placement of them alongside books or literature in "ziplock bags?". I do admit, I bag my precious books if they go on the shelf. The few things that irk me are the "keep calm" pamphlet, the "genius" tab, and the Russian language learning book. DUDE, he grew up speaking and reading Russian. And he still speaks it. And why the bookshelves are staggered by like 4cm, Ay Yai Yai!

[@thekingoffailure9967]

@@jim1550 I assume he has the russian language book for the same reason english speakers keep dictionaries and thesauruses. Language is famously complicted

[@lorenzoblum868]

What I love about Periodic video is the authenticity. Please don't spoil it with unnecessary special effects such as music background.

[@philipocarroll]

Awesome! I did the same experiment with a Euro 5c and wondered what was going on. I dropped it in a test tube not a beaker. It started slowly dissolved away the copper then heated it up and fizzed away like yours until there was only a small unrecognizable steel disc left. This is a great series!

[@VeraTR909]

I love you Sir Martyn Poliakoff, the world needs more people like you.

[@Haplo-san]

I'm tripped by background music choice. Felt like I'm dissolving in the acid. Fantastic!

[@harriehausenman8623]

Yo mad bruh?

[@brandonjeffi5976]

10:45 I was so anxious watching this and feeling like the beaker would overflow at any second

[@joshuagibson2520]

I've been waiting for some quality knowledge. Thanks for the delivery.

[@JeremyLaw]

I think the equation for the conc. reaction at 5:00 might have been written down wrong! The Oxygen doesn't balance: 6x3 = 18 atoms on the left, but 2x3x2 + 2x2+ 3 = 19 on the right. This looks like it works: Cu + 4HNO3 -> Cu(NO3)2 + 2NO2 + 2H2O Apologies if I'm missing something.

[@valentinkugler9189]

I was wondering that too, came to the same conclusion as you.

[@boluguzici9441]

Your channel is the reason chemistry is my interest and hobby. Thank you

[@Flakintosh]

I'm loving the music in the background while you're experimenting Professor. Fascinating to see how these elements react!

[@adrianbornabasic7499]

The bottom reaction at 5:07 doesn't add up properly...

[@TheOpaqueWalrus]

You're right, it should be 4 HNO3 + Cu ==> Cu(NO3)2 + 2 NO2 + 2 H2O

[@mozkitolife5437]

Well that's rather embarrassing for PV.

[@rbzbsb]

Saw the equations and rushed to the comments to find if someone had spotted it too. The top one is not balanced either.

[@TheOpaqueWalrus]

@@rbzbsb Unless I'm missing something I believe the top one is correctly balanced

[@rbzbsb]

Checked again. Top one is indeed correct. Thanks!

[@Jayneflakes]

That was fabulous, thank you so much for making this video.

[@kylester816]

Ignition! is my favorite non-fiction book by far. If not my favorite book in general. Love it.

[@minhanhnguyenngoc635]

its 12 am and i watch this at my bed, really addictive ^^

[@SarcastSempervirens]

The Professor being with this channel and all of us, teaching us for so many years here now is short of a miracle in this age where people have nanodedication and microattention span. It's always great to see how excited he gets to see something or do an experiment, it rubs off on people.

[@tracybowling1156]

Even though I don't quite understand chemistry at all, I love the experiments. This one was great fun to watch!!

[@heartandreuoquiana8610]

The timing of this video. My teacher needed a experiment from me. Thankyou guys

[@prestonheck4927]

I’m always excited when I see these guys pop up in my inbox!

[@Leo-if5tn]

I really appreciate to see that the Professor is well :)

[@brianreddeman951]

NileRed has done some of these reactions. He made a crude nozel out of a test tube.

[@trulyinfamous]

Copper is one of my favorite metals. It forms very pretty blue to green compounds, and I enjoy the color of the base metal. It also has incredible importance for technology and electricity.

[@micha_el_]

This acid is a master of transformation. I once learned about the oxidizing nature of HNO3 when some little splashes got onto my olive shirt and transformed into many little violet dots. Then, during the washing cycle, the little violet dots transformed into little invisible dots. After drying they finally transformed into many little holes😣

[@kashgarinn]

Lovely video with great experiments!

[@gigglysamentz2021]

I love how you guys science it out when something unexpected happens!

[@jiioannidis7215]

Ignition! is a great book. I particularly liked the section when he talked about ClF3 :)

[@ic08jy700]

You're too modest Prof. Thanks again for doing the experiments I would love to have done in my chemistry class.

[@steamer1]

Good to see Prof Sir Martyn Poliakov doing experiments again.

[@donstor1]

Great to see the professor and the tie is fantastic!

[@IanGrams]

Delightful to watch something unexpected happen then the Professor think it through and test his hypothesis. Thanks all for these wonderful videos :]

[@pagorami5253]

ive been missing the videos! glad to see you guys again

[@convictednotconvinced]

that's some interesting background music

[@harriehausenman8623]

If you can call that "music". I found it so distracting, couldnt listen to the prof...

[@BuggaJB]

You saved me a comment.

[@touficasmar496]

Glad to see that the professor and team are doing well!

[@droppedpasta]

Ignition! is a great book. Those early rocketry guys were a special kind of nuts!

[@m1k3y48]

Can confirm, it is an amazing read. And it's free online! My favorite is the time the author proposed just spitting liquid mercury out the back of a rocket to increase specific thrust or something, and some government bureaucrat *approved it!* It didn't actually get tested, thankfully. Absolutely wild stories, highly recommend.

[@HRM.H]

Thanks for the informative video as always.

[@jcims]

On NurdRage he had an experiment with fuming Nitric Acid in which it even passivated copper. By adding a few drops of water to dilute it he was able to continue the reaction. Pretty interesting demonstration (~6:30 in his "Make Nitric Acid - The Complete Guide" video)

[@jfp2816]

I also thought that.

[@DANGJOS]

I know it's dangerous, but boy that reddish-brown nitrogen dioxide gas looks beautiful!

[@Chainsaw-ASMR]

'Ignition' was one of the best books I read in lockdown 😀 I was so happy to see Neil demonstrating the reactions, thanks

[@MurdockEx]

Another fantastic video! Thank you for continuing to make these. :D

[@joshjones3408]

The sound track is awesome 👍👍👍 great video 👍👍

[@uvbe]

I missed this. This man is an inspiration.

[@Rockefeller.69]

Seriously amazing editing

[@richardjones4080]

absolutely fascinating channel every time I get a notification i am here asap

[@TheDistur]

Very cool you got to show how a lot of science works in general!

[@robbybobbyhobbies]

Awesome - read the book in 1st lockdown and became somewhat obsessed with the "fuming" nitric acids and hypergolic reactions. Excellent to see them in the flesh (sort of).

[@rastislavzima]

Fantastic as always. Thank you.

[@alwayswatching662]

You are everyone's favorite wise teacher may u have many blessed days

[@dobrealexvlad]

I love your videos. I study chemistry all my life. What I did not find is where should I get a super cool tie like you have sir.

[@xwinglover]

What a great video and superb channel.

[@barryhudson4238]

This was like an experiment I did in school, I was trying to identify the composition of copper coins. I used concentrated nitric acid to dissolve them, which worked perfectly for my first coin but when I came in to the lab the next day after dissolving my second coin overnight I discovered my 2p coin had turned silver and was stuck to the magnetic stirrer! Completely changed my research, and gave me a wonderful passion for chemistry :)

[@Eracer]

Great man you are! Thanks for being so passionate

[@eatingplaydoh]

I love watching your videos sir.

[@1234j]

So glad to see this. I missed you! You are an inspiration and open doors in people's minds for understanding the wonderful world around us. Stay safe, and please do more, if only to keep others sane under lockdown (if that's alright with you. And Neil. And your GoPro. Or perhaps someone else's.). P.S. Was debasing our currency ever this much fun?

[@adammcinnes5615]

This reminded me of one of my favourite stories about science, that of Ira Remsen trying to understand something that he had read in a book about copper and nitric acid (Remsen founded the chemistry department at Johns Hopkins University). "While reading a textbook of chemistry I came upon the statement, "nitric acid acts upon copper." I was getting tired of reading such absurd stuff and I was determined to see what this meant. Copper was more or less familiar to me, for copper cents were then in use. I had seen a bottle marked nitric acid on a table in the doctor's office where I was then "doing time." I did not know its pecularities, but the spirit of adventure was upon me. Having nitric acid and copper, I had only to learn what the words "act upon" meant. The statement "nitric acid acts upon copper" would be more than mere words. All was still. In the interest of knowledge I was even willing to sacrifice one of the few copper cents then in my possission. I put one of them on the table, opened the bottle marked nitric acid, poured some of the liquid on the copper and prepared to make an observation. But what was this wonderful thing which I beheld? The cent was already changed and it was no small change either. A green-blue liquid foamed and fumed over the cent and over the table. The air in the neighborhood of the performance became colored dark red. A great colored cloud arose. This was disagreeable and suffocating. How should I stop this? I tried to get rid of the objectionable mess by picking it up and throwing it out of the window. I learned another fact. Nitric acid not only acts upon copper, but it acts upon fingers. The pain led to another unpremeditated experiment. I drew my fingers across my trousers and another fact was discovered. Nitric acid acts upon trousers. Taking everything into consideration, that was the most impressive experiment and relatively probably the most costly experiment I have ever performed... It was a revelation to me. It resulted in a desire on my part to learn more about that remarkable kind of action. Plainly, the only way to learn about it was to see its results, to experiment, to work in a laboratory." from F. H. Getman, "The Life of Ira Remsen"; Journal of Chemical Education: Easton, Pennsylvania, 1940; pp 9-10; quoted in Richard W. Ramette, "Exocharmic Reactions" in Bassam Z. Shakhashiri, Chemical Demonstrations: A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry, Volume 1. Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1983, p. xiv:

[@captainsensible4843]

Was very pleased when while studying architecture I saw the distinguished professor after one of our lectures (for some reason held in the chemistry building), ensuring i could get the complete Nottingham experience

[@negrotski]

Great vid guys!

[@robertoo01]

This is a beautiful example of how even school chemistry has interesting depths to it, that can surprise even a professor.

[@LeAnimal65]

One if my favorite phrases the professor says on this channel is, "I persuaded Neil to...". 😁. Great to see some lab action again!

[@hasanhas00n1]

Thanks for the upload love your videos

[@jamesnichols7583]

People like you make me love science

[@imdonkeykonga]

you are always inspiring me professor

[@Burndo]

Let’s Goooooo! Professor is still in the game!

[@mind-gap2020]

This video will be vary useful in our research, thank you.

[@blug407]

Working with a bit of concentrated nitric acid right now for my thesis work, some pretty harsh stuff!

[@BuIIetBiII]

yep, looks pretty dangerous and scary

[@frankcancelliere8851]

fuming sulphuric acid is even worse than the nitric acid

[@martineyles]

I can testify that concentrated nitric acid also reacts with cotton, paper and plastic. It changed the colour of plastic from black to orange, while just burning holes in the other materials.

[@moscanaveia]

I used to do a synthesis with copper(I) chloride and vanadum(III) compounds, and the side product was metallic copper, which formed in copious amounts. My friend used to store the copper, but I would always digest it in aqua regia, so that deep green solid doing away with so much solid residue is a heartwarming reminder. Funny thing is that I had always assumed the green colour was due to the formation of a copper(II) chloride coordination compound, from the chloride anions in aqua regia. To find it is not actually the case is intriguing to me.

[@fefohood]

I would like to see more about passivation. Thanks for the video.

[@pr0hobo]

professor: so i persuaded Neil to..." everyone: on no not again what is it this time

[@AD-bs6kf]

Who else randomly found this channel and then watch all the videos

[@periodicvideos]

That's a lot of watching!

[@AD-bs6kf]

@@periodicvideos but with learning

[@BackYardScience2000]

✋

[@LazyLifeIFreak]

Random? Ive been subbed for a year or more.

[@DANGJOS]

I've known about this channel for probably a decade or so. One of the oldest ones on science I think.

[@dipi71]

I am a proud owner of several Ivar storage racks myself. Great minds think alike, it appears. ;) Stunning footage, cheers!

[@kuravax]

btw, neil was speaking like the first time in a few years on 08:03

[@twixeater1]

Great videos, truly! Can we hear more from the organic chemists, if possible? Carbon is such a magical element. Some spectroscopy from one of the Nottingham channels might be nice, too (I confess my bias as a PhD student, working on Raman spectroscopy). Only Nottingham can make spectroscopy engaging to the world!

[@Raffael-Tausend]

"Why did the Queen dissolve?"

[@RaunienTheFirst]

Not a sentence you hear every day.

[@Reactordrone]

To get to the other side.

[@AaronOrtiz]

@@Reactordrone of the pond?

[@scrotiemcboogerballs1981]

Always a great video thank you all for everything you do God bless science

[@hugusACFgugaefgo]

A new great video. Finally...

[@sillypoint2292]

Wow! Been waiting for the video😻 I love chem and wanna become a chemist like professor.

[@mrkool501]

Nice to see another video

[@betrueALLWAYS]

ahhhh...that feels better. Thank You Professor💋

[@blackheadization]

I think the reaction between aniline and nitric acid would be more powerful if fresh aniline was used. The brown colour means that it is quite significantly oxidized.

[@AB-80X]

Not to mention the fact that this reaction gets really slow with regular nitric acid.

[@stunimbus1543]

I like the careful use of the words 'experiement' and 'demostration'.

[@n20games52]

Unexpected results are often the most interesting.

[@beldurnik21]

The aniline and fuming nitric acid was covered on the Nile Red channel. In that video he references your channel and work done on hypergolic reactions. Also referencing the exact same book.

[@theosprey1950]

Nice job guys

[@clockbeat]

I've never seen Neil so happy :D