Esters are organic compounds that contain an ester functional group. An ester functional group is a COO group. 3D version of the ester methyl ethanoate Esters are named from the alcohols and carboxylic acids they were created from : (Eg. methanol + ethanoic acid => methyl ethanoate + water) Ingredients: Sulfuric acid Ethanol...
Here we investigate electrolysis and try to explain our findings with a few diagrams and animations. In this diagram we are showing how heating causes the ions to become mobile, and then the electric field causes the ions to separate. This allows us to separate elements in a molten ionic compound. Electrolysing molten compounds: I...
We think that stone age / bronze age man discovered iron by accident . Man must have used fire and probably had a firepit which was used every day. Over time charcoal ( which is mainly carbon) would have built up. Ancient man probably used rocks to contain his firepit. It seems possible that some of these rocks were iron bearing rock...
In the "furry worm" experiment the reactive magnesium metal reduces the less reactive copper. In this post we are going to investigate how metals can be used to make electric (voltaic) cells. A reactive metal will transfer electrons to a less reactive metal. This can happen directly as in a displacement reaction or we can set thin...
Colourful compounds Many transition metals have ions which have strong characteristic colours. For example: copper and iron. The metal copper, and iron (rust) have orange like colours. Copper ions are often blue. Blood is red, emeralds are green and the Statue of Liberty is ...? For emeralds, the colour is due to the presence ...