Carbon Snake
Physical Science, Chemistry and Life Science, Biology.
Recommended for grades 8-12.
Teacher Prep time: 15 min
Safety gloves required.
Safety Goggles Required
Safety Apron Required
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Essential Question
What is the energy or heat flow through an exothermic reaction?
Demonstration Objectives
- Predict what will happen during the demonstration.
- Observe an exothermic reaction.
- Trace the flow of energy through the reaction.
Next Generation Science Standards* (NGSS)
Science and Engineering Practices
Constructing Explanations
- Students will apply scientific ideas, principles, and/or evidence to provide an explanation of phenomena.
Disciplinary Core Ideas
Physical Science: PS1 and PS3
- PS3.B: Energy transfer— energy is transferred during an exothermic chemical reaction from the reaction vessel (system) to the environment.
- PS1.B: Chemical reactions—water can be removed from carbohydrates through a dehydration reaction.
Crosscutting Concepts
Cause and Effect
- Students will suggest cause and effect relationships to explain and predict behaviors in complex natural systems like chemical reactions.
Safety & Disposal
Concentrated sulfuric acid is extremely corrosive and causes severe burns. Avoid acid contact with skin, eyes, and clothing.
The reaction performed in this demonstration produces dangerous sulfur dioxide fumes. It should be performed in a fume hood with adequate ventilation.
Procedures
Know and follow all federal, state, and local regulations as well as school district guidelines for the disposal of laboratory wastes.
- Weigh 30 grams of sucrose and place it into the 150-mL reaction beaker.
- Weigh 30 grams of sucrose and place it into the 150-mL reaction beaker.
- Add 1 mL of water to dampen the sugar.
- Stir it with the glass stirring rod.
- Ask students to define the word dehydrate and give examples of dehydration.
- Place the beaker on a heat-resistant surface.
- Put on acid-resistant gloves before handling the concentrated sulfuric acid.
- If in a biology class, review the reactions for making glucose and using glucose as an energy source. Discuss the differences between glucose and sucrose.
- Measure 30 mL of sulfuric acid and pour the concentrated sulfuric acid into the reaction beaker
- Place the empty graduated cylinder in the beaker of water to dilute any residual acid.
- Stir the contents with the glass stirring rod until the acid is distributed throughout the sugar.
- Remove the glass stirring rod and place it in the beaker of water. Stand back from the reaction so students can observe it.
Note: It might take several minutes for the reaction to begin.
- Make sure students can see the reaction but are not exposed to the sulfuric acid fumes or any SO2 that may be produced.
- Leave the reaction beaker in the fume hood to cool. The carbon tower may have residual sulfuric acid on it. It should never be handled without acid-resistant gloves and other appropriate PPE.
- Consider asking chemistry students to explain the results based on bond energies. A discussion of entropy would also be appropriate.
Data and Observations
A carbon snake grows from the beaker and releases steam or a gas. The beaker appears to get hot since steam was released.
Analysis & Discussion
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What evidence did you observe that a chemical reaction took place during the demonstration?
The formation of the carbon tube and steam being released
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Was heat released or absorbed by the overall reaction during the demonstration? Explain the flow of heat during the reaction. (Consider asking chemistry students to explain the results based on bond energies. A discussion of entropy would also be appropriate.)
Heat was released. The contents of the beaker got hot and turned the water to steam. Heat was transferred to the environment from the reaction beaker. This was an exothermic reaction.
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The dehydration of sucrose (C12H22O11) separates water from the carbohydrate, producing elemental carbon and water. Write a balanced chemical reaction for the dehydration of sucrose.
C12H22O11 →12C + 11H2O
*Next Generation Science Standards® is a registered trademark of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of, and do not endorse, these products.
