Advertisement

This site uses cookies to enhance your user experience. By continuing to use this site you are agreeing to our COOKIE POLICY.

ACCEPT AND CLOSE

If you have an ACS member number, please enter it here so we can link this account to your membership. (optional)

ACS values your privacy. By submitting your information, you are gaining access to C&EN and subscribing to our weekly newsletter. We use the information you provide to make your reading experience better, and we will never sell your data to third party members.

The key to knowledge is in your (nitrile-gloved) hands

Already an ACS Member?  

Basic

$0 Community Associate

ACS’s Basic Package keeps you connected with C&EN and ACS.

  • Access to 6 digital C&EN articles per month on cen.acs.org
  • Weekly delivery of the C&EN Essential newsletter
JOIN NOW
Standard

$80 Regular Members & Society Affiliates

ACS’s Standard Package lets you stay up to date with C&EN, stay active in ACS, and save.

Eligibility restrictions apply. Review ACS Membership Packages to see if you qualify.

JOIN NOW
Premium

$160 Regular Members & Society Affiliates
$55 Graduate Students
$25 Undergraduate Students

ACS’s Premium Package gives you full access to C&EN and everything the ACS Community has to offer.

  • Unlimited access to C&EN’s daily news coverage on cen.acs.org
  • Weekly delivery of the C&EN Magazine in print or digital format
  • Access to our Chemistry News by C&EN mobile app
  • Significant discounts on registration for most ACS-sponsored meetings
ACS offers discounts for some countries outside the United States. This discount is shown at checkout, if applicable.

JOIN NOW

Thank you!

Your account has been created successfully, and a confirmation email is on the way.

Your username is now your ACS ID.

ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCES TO C&EN

Outreach

Chemistry In Pictures

Chemistry in Pictures: Sparks in the dark

by Alexandra A. Taylor
November 29, 2021
Advertisement

Most Popular in Education

 

A graduated cylinder containing liquid that is giving off sparks.
Credit: Sérgio da Silva Julião

The intense colors shown in this photo are formed by the exothermic oxidation of ethanol with potassium permanganate in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid. Murilo Sérgio da Silva Julião is a professor of analytical chemistry at the State University of the Valley of the Acaraú. He’s also the coordinator of the Science Chapel Project, the purpose of which is to develop engaging demonstrations such as this one for high school students. To carry out this reaction, Julião explains, add 50 mL each of sulfuric acid and ethanol to a beaker. The ethanol will slowly diffuse into the acid. When two liquid phases are visible, add 500 mg of potassium permanganate, and watch the sparks fly.

Submitted by Murilo Sérgio da Silva Julião

Do science. Take pictures. Win money. Enter our photo contest here.

Click here to see more Chemistry in Pictures.

Chemical & Engineering News
ISSN 0009-2347
Copyright © 2025 American Chemical Society

You might also like...

Serving the chemical, life science, and laboratory worlds
Chemistry in Pictures: Chloroauric acid crystals
Serving the chemical, life science, and laboratory worlds
Chemistry in Pictures: Pedagogical potion
Serving the chemical, life science, and laboratory worlds
Chemistry in Pictures: A dry red

Article:

This article has been sent to the following recipient:

2 /3 FREE ARTICLES LEFT THIS MONTH Remaining
Chemistry matters. Join us to get the news you need.
GET MORE
GET MORE