Carbon snake is a demonstration of the dehydration reaction of sugar by concentrated sulfuric acid. With concentrated sulfuric acid, granulated table sugar (sucrose) performs a degradation reaction which changes its form to a black solid-liquid mixture.[1] The carbon snake experiment can sometimes be misidentified as the black snake, "sugar snake", or "burning sugar" reaction, all of which involve baking soda rather than sulfuric acid.
A column of porous black graphite formed during the experiment.Carbon snake experiment
Concentrated sulfuric acid can perform a dehydration reaction with table sugar. After mixing, the color changes from white to brownish and eventually to black. The expansion of the mixture is the result of vaporization of water and CO2 inside the container. The gases inflate the mixture to form a snake-like shape, and give off a burned sugar smell.[1] The granularity of the sugar can greatly affect the reaction: powdered sugar reacts very quickly but sugar cubes take longer to react.[2]
When sucrose is dehydrated, heat is given out to the surroundings in an exothermic reaction, while graphite and liquid water are produced by the decomposition of the sugar:[3]
C12H22O11(s) + H2SO4(aq) + 1/2 O2(g) → 11 C (s) + CO2(g) + 12 H2O (g) + SO2(g)
As the acid dehydrates the sucrose, the water produced will dilute the sulfuric acid, giving out energy in the form of heat.
C12H22O11(s) → 12 C (s) + 11 H2O (l)
Alternative experimentedit
Paranitroaniline can be used instead of sugar, if the experiment is allowed to proceed under an obligatory fumehood.[4] With this method the reaction phase prior to the black snake's appearance is longer, but once complete, the black snake itself rises from the container very rapidly.[5] This reaction may cause an explosion if too much sulfuric acid is used.[6]
^ abShakhashiri, Bassam Z.; Shreiner, Rodney; Bell, Jerry A. (2011). "1.32 Dehydration of Sugar by Sulfuric Acid". Chemical Demonstrations a handbook for teachers of chemistry volume 1. University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 77–78. ISBN978-0-299-08890-3.
^Don't Try This at Home - 3 - Sulfuric Acid and Sugar, retrieved 2022-01-31
^Roesky, Herbert W. (2007). "Experiment 6: Sugar coal by splitting off water from sugar with sulfuric acid". Spectacular Chemical Experiment. Wiley. p. 17. ISBN978-3-527-31865-0.
^Summerlin, Lee R.; Ealy, James L. (1988). "Experiment 77: Dehydration of p-Nitroaniline: Sanke and Puff". Chemical Demonstrations: A Sourcebook for Teachers Volume 1 (2nd ed.). American Chemical Society. p. 171. ISBN978-0-841-21481-1.
^"Carbon Snake: demonstrating the dehydration power of concentrated sulfuric acid". communities.acs.org. 2013-06-06. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
^Making a carbon snake with P-Nitroaniline, retrieved 2022-01-31
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carbon snake.
Dehydration of sucrose with sulfuric acid ChemEd X
Sugar snake (Sugar and Baking soda) MEL science
Sugar Snake: Sulfuric Acid and Sugar youtube.com
January 01, 1970
carbon, snake, confused, with, black, snake, firework, demonstration, dehydration, reaction, sugar, concentrated, sulfuric, acid, with, concentrated, sulfuric, acid, granulated, table, sugar, sucrose, performs, degradation, reaction, which, changes, form, blac. Not to be confused with Black snake firework Carbon snake is a demonstration of the dehydration reaction of sugar by concentrated sulfuric acid With concentrated sulfuric acid granulated table sugar sucrose performs a degradation reaction which changes its form to a black solid liquid mixture 1 The carbon snake experiment can sometimes be misidentified as the black snake sugar snake or burning sugar reaction all of which involve baking soda rather than sulfuric acid A column of porous black graphite formed during the experiment source source source source source source source source Carbon snake experiment Contents 1 Explanation 2 Alternative experiment 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksExplanation editConcentrated sulfuric acid can perform a dehydration reaction with table sugar After mixing the color changes from white to brownish and eventually to black The expansion of the mixture is the result of vaporization of water and CO2 inside the container The gases inflate the mixture to form a snake like shape and give off a burned sugar smell 1 The granularity of the sugar can greatly affect the reaction powdered sugar reacts very quickly but sugar cubes take longer to react 2 When sucrose is dehydrated heat is given out to the surroundings in an exothermic reaction while graphite and liquid water are produced by the decomposition of the sugar 3 C12H22O11 s H2SO4 aq 1 2 O2 g 11 C s CO2 g 12 H2O g SO2 g As the acid dehydrates the sucrose the water produced will dilute the sulfuric acid giving out energy in the form of heat C12H22O11 s 12 C s 11 H2O l Alternative experiment editParanitroaniline can be used instead of sugar if the experiment is allowed to proceed under an obligatory fumehood 4 With this method the reaction phase prior to the black snake s appearance is longer but once complete the black snake itself rises from the container very rapidly 5 This reaction may cause an explosion if too much sulfuric acid is used 6 See also editElephant s toothpaste Black snake firework Chemical volcano Diet Coke and Mentos eruptionReferences edit a b Shakhashiri Bassam Z Shreiner Rodney Bell Jerry A 2011 1 32 Dehydration of Sugar by Sulfuric Acid Chemical Demonstrations a handbook for teachers of chemistry volume 1 University of Wisconsin Press pp 77 78 ISBN 978 0 299 08890 3 Don t Try This at Home 3 Sulfuric Acid and Sugar retrieved 2022 01 31 Roesky Herbert W 2007 Experiment 6 Sugar coal by splitting off water from sugar with sulfuric acid Spectacular Chemical Experiment Wiley p 17 ISBN 978 3 527 31865 0 Summerlin Lee R Ealy James L 1988 Experiment 77 Dehydration of p Nitroaniline Sanke and Puff Chemical Demonstrations A Sourcebook for Teachers Volume 1 2nd ed American Chemical Society p 171 ISBN 978 0 841 21481 1 Carbon Snake demonstrating the dehydration power of concentrated sulfuric acid communities acs org 2013 06 06 Retrieved 2022 01 31 Making a carbon snake with P Nitroaniline retrieved 2022 01 31External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carbon snake Dehydration of sucrose with sulfuric acid ChemEd X Sugar snake Sugar and Baking soda MEL science Sugar Snake Sulfuric Acid and Sugar youtube com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Carbon snake amp oldid 1214412903, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
