Bob Worley

@bobthechemist.bsky.social

424 Followers 388 Following

Author of Understanding Chemistry through Microscale Practical Work. Can do the Traditional stuff as well but the educational, pedagogical, economical & environmental advantages of micro & small-scale techniques (MaSSTs) are becoming increasingly relevant.

The light at the back is shining on a bank of LEDs connected in parallel to provide a very small current but enough to microelectrolyse 0.5M CuCl₂ solution. Electrodes are carbon rods.
The Beer's law plot is very good. A spreadsheet is used to find the values.
The new design is top left. The Lego cuvette holder is top right. The voltmeter is the most expensive part.
This is electrolysis using light. The 8 light cells are arranged in parallel to provide a voltage of about 3 V and a current of 65 mA. Copper chloride solution is electrolysed to give copper and chlorine Bleaching litmus, affecting starch/iodide paper, and potassium iodide solution.
The glistening crystals of lead iodide are formed during formation (as they are so thin) and by the bombardment with surrounding water molecules.
Tiny speck of Pb(NO₃)₂ was introduced on the left (you can still see the remains) in a 1 cm diameter of water; I waited 10 seconds and put a tiny speck of KI from the right.
This is separating activated carbon from an aqueous suspension.
0.25 cm³ of 1M copper sulfate is added to the iron staples and 2 cm³ of 1.5M sulfuric acid It is heated for 10 minutes. Can also use steel paper clips. This is the personal spirit burner (ethanol biofuel) hotplate.
Oxidation of propanone with a copper catalyst.
Ethanol fuelled spirit burner. The can is cut and sharp edges are folded over. 3D printed burner holder/slider and can-holder using the groove.
Sugar crystals between crossed polarizing filters.