The genie in the bottle - the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide

The catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide provides teachers with a whole range of exciting demonstrations. An often-overlooked demonstration with a sense of magic and wonder is the ‘genie in the bottle’, in which a puff of ‘smoke’ escapes from a bottle when the lid is removed.
Read the article that accompanies this video in the July 2018 issue of Education in Chemistry at rsc.li/EiC418ecyt
This is part of the Education in Chemistry Exhibition Chemistry series: chemistry demonstrations to capture your students' imaginations: rsc.li/EiCExChem

[@declan.fleming]

Thanks to the class of 2017 for the special lab coat they had made for me which recently arrived :)

[@justintothetruth]

That was amazing! Unreal! 😮❤❤❤

[@ChemTalk]

Thanks Declan for this simple idea. We tried it with potassium permanganate and 30% H2O2, and it worked equally well. Better yet, inside the flask was a mess, but none of the permanganate was expelled from the flask.

[@declan.fleming]

thanks for the feedback :)

[@ChemTalk]

@@declan.fleming you are very welcome. See you in 5 months!

[@emmanuelboakyechemistrycla5071]

Use aqueous H2SO4 to clean the flask

[@edouardocastillo]

Great video. ❓ I am researching on non heme manganese catalases and I was wondering if you could point me in the right direction? Where could I see the biosynthesis of catalase?

[@salilmahadik5487]

Do we get the same result when we add Platinum to it or does it just explodes? And also a great video.

[@terrijuanette486]

Have you tried Cobalt as the catalyst? I hear S. Korea has started using that...apparently, it's much cheaper and much more environmentally friendly.

[@declan.fleming]

Other catalysts are available - I've heard of lead oxides being used but Mn is preferable from the environmental perspective there. If deviating you'd need to undertake a special risk assessment - I can't comment on the advisability of Co I'm afraid - I've not tried it. If you're a CLEAPSS member I'd suggest dropping a message to the helpline for guidance. They might update SRA017 on the next review if it seems like a good option.

[@justintothetruth]

Environmentally friendly? Can someone so brainwashed that they think this could in anyway impact the environment? Well I buy a crap ton of plastic everyday. Just to pull me cigar smoke outside. So I guess that off sets that.

[@gabxxx7411]

Nice video! I have a question: since very small MnO2 particles are produced in the reaction and some of them will of course be released in the smoke, do you think that this could bring any exposure risk for people in the demonstration room?

[@gabxxx7411]

... and, in particular, for teachers (like me!) repeating the demonstration several times every year for many student classes?

[@declan.fleming]

it's an excellent point - this is the reason for the larger-than-usual distance from which to operate (5 m). You can see me stepping away reasonably swiftly. In a well-ventilated room CLEAPSS have judged that WEL unlikely to be exceeded.

[@ajitkumarkv1038]

can we try this in a class sir ? room how dangerous is it ?

[@ajitkumarkv1038]

is it good for our lungs sir ?

[@stephenbillings]

I go to Santa Pod a few times a year. They have a person who comes over, and rides a hydrogen peroxide powered rocket bike. Why didn't your flask try to shoot off like a rocket?

[@declan.fleming]

Concentration, diameter of neck of flask, surface area and type of catalyst... but don't forget that the exhaust from the reaction here is directed *upwards* anyway :) The Saturn V was an impressive rocket but if you'd tried to launch it with the exhaust facing upwards you'd be disappointed!

[@dominicesteban3174]

What is "100 volt peroxide"? I've never seen hydrogen peroxide sold with that concentration UOM. How does this map to % concentration in the manner peroxide seems to be commonly sold (3%, 12%, 30%).

[@japedicini18]

100 vol = 30% hydrogen peroxide

[@vishnu-qd3qj]

Really difficult my sir gave me this project and i hate chemistry

[@xdPeter]

Our class unwisely just used a standard test tube

[@biagiodibalsamo2409]

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[@biagiodibalsamo2409]

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[@biagiodibalsamo2409]

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