Monday, March 8, 2010

Glittering golden crystals at your disposal

Things you'll require:
1. Lead nitrate
2. Potassium iodide
3. Test tubes and a heat source

How to do it:
Take little amount(1/100th of a teaspoon-full, you get the idea) of lead nitrate and potassium iodide into two test tubes and add little water to it(1/10th of test tube). Now pour one solution into another one. You will instantly notice separation of some yellow solid. Now gradually heat and shake the mixture using a heat source(gas burner, spirit lamp etc). The yellow solid dissolves. Now stop heating and let it cool down. Observe. You'll see tiny golden glittering particles forming in the solution. Cool with tap water for an instant effect!

Why? Lead nitrate and potassium iodide reacts to form lead iodide, which is soluble in water at higher temperatures but recrystallizes on cooling.

Caution: Lead nitrate as well as lead iodide is toxic. So handle carefully.

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