Aluminum Metal Digestion as a Demonstration of an Oscillating Voltage Reaction: An Application Beyond the Textbook

• Cathy L. Cobb ^[1] ; Wilson Haddock ^[1] ; Monty L. Fetterolf ^[1]
  1. [1] University of South Carolina Aiken

     University of South Carolina Aiken

     Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 97, Nº 1, 2020, págs. 162-165
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • The oscillating open-circuit voltage generated by the digestion of aluminum rods, catalyzed by copper(II) chloride in 3 M nitric acid at 90 °C, is presented as a demonstration appropriate for a general chemistry or advanced laboratory. This demonstration encourages discussion of the possible kinetic mechanism as well as the general electrochemical half-reactions involved and the limited conditions under which oscillations occur. The objective is to provide general chemistry students with an interesting reaction beyond typical kinetics or electrochemistry. Apart from 1100-alloy aluminum rods and a recording voltmeter, the demonstration uses standard lab equipment, and the materials for the solutions are those typically found in a general lab setting.