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Nitric Acid Acts Upon Copper
Chemistry students recently took a look at a historical demonstration of the wonders of discovery in chemistry. In a reenactment of Ira Remsen's (founder of the chemistry department at Johns Hopkins University) memoirs, Mr. Watt demonstrated the strong corrosive nature of nitric acid.
"A greenish blue liquid foamed and fumed over the cent and over the table. The air in the neighborhood of the performance became dark and 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, which I had meanwhile opened. I learned another fact - nitric acid not only acts upon copper but it acts upon fingers. The pain led to yet another unpremeditated experiment. I drew my fingers across my trousers and another fact was discovered. Nitric acid also acts upon trousers."
This excerpt was read aloud as Mr. Watt carefully recreated the experiment in a manner much safer than that in which it was carried out in the memoir, and students got to make a short trip outside to remove the noxious red gas that was produced from the graduated cylinder in which it was contained during the demonstration. This was also a perfect opportunity to discuss lab safety, and for students to sign safety contracts.
Check out our photo gallery to view how Nitric Acid Acts Upon Copper.
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