Glowing Pickle
- Page ID
- 131397
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Required Training |
Required PPE |
|---|---|
|
UC Lab Safety Fundamentals |
Lab coat, safety glasses/goggles, nitrile gloves |
|
Equipment |
Chemicals |
|
Fabricated Setup |
NaCl |
|
Pickle |
KCl |
| CuCl2 | |
Procedure:
- Place the pickle inside of the plexiglass case by inserting one end into the electrode then sliding the entire piece into the other. The pickle should be skewered as level as possible.
- Ensure all hands are clear then push down on the button to initiate electricity flowing to the system.
- The pickle will start to drip, hiss, and smoke. The picke will start to glow yellow. Repeat as many times as you would like. Other salt solutions, like KCl and CuCl2 , will produce other colors (pink and green) if the pickle is soaked for a week.
Clean-up: The pickle will be warm when handling, but will not be hot enough to scald. If the pickle was soaked in CuCl2, it should be disposed of as hazardous waste, otherwise put it in a sealed bag and dispose of in trash can.
Hazards: Do not handle the pickle when the setup is on to avoid electrocution.
Principle: The added energy in the form of electricity excites the sodium ions inside the pickle to a higher energy state When the sodium ion goes back to its original state, energy is released in the form of yellow light, causing the pickle to glow. Different salts results in different colors due to the different mixes of energy levels characteristic to each atom.
Notes: This demo results in awful smells and should be done in a well ventilated area.