Microscale Gas Chemistry:

You will need:

• large pipet
• plastic cup or beaker filled with water
• syringe of gas or gas mixture
• scissors
• test tube, medium or small
• piezoelectric sparker (Instructions for the construction of a piezoelectric sparker.)

1. Prepare several Beral pipet 'rockets' by removing all but 2-cm of the stem from several extra-large polyethylene (disposable) pipets.

    2. Fill the pipet rockets completely with water and store them in the cup filled with water.

3. Remove the cap from the syringe and slip the water-filled pipet rocket over the LuerLOK fitting.  Bubble the gas mixture into the rocket until it is filled.  Leave a little water in the stem (or draw some in) and store the rocket in a test tube filled with water.  Multiple rockets can be prepared at this time.

4. Position the rocket over the wire leads of the piezoelectric sparker.  Water must remain in the stem because this serves as the propellant; however, the ends of the wire leads must be above the water in the gas-filled region of the rocket.

5. If the water leaks out of the stem while positioning the rocket over the wires, immediately fill the stem again by holding the wires plus rocket assembly in a cup of water and suctioning a very small amount of water into the stem.

6. Trigger the sparker and the rocket will fly 5 m or more.

 

A fireball is noticed in a darkened room as the gas mixture ignites.