Demonstration Lesson Plans Click Below ! ! :

1. Charcoal Sausage

2.   Burning Water 

3.  Absorption of Heat & Non-Burning Paper Cup

4. The Non-Burning Dollar Bill

5.  Reaction Rates & the "Grain Elevator Explosion"

6. Reaction Rates & the "Light Stick"

Section 1- Chemical
& Physical Changes

Section 2- Chemical
& Physical Properties

Section 3 - Water &
Its Properties

Section 4 - Corrosion

Section 5 - Acids/Bases/In dicators

Section 6 - Gases & Pressure

Bibliography

Appendix 1 -Charts & tables, Disposal of Chemicals, Sources of Chemicals,  Preparations of Acid and Solutions

Appendix 2              Properties of Common Elements, Descriptions of the Elements, Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide

Appendix 3                Principles of Education, Prof. Hanko

The Reformed Witness, Rev. Cammenga

COVENANT HOME

CHEMISTRY HOME

          SECTION 1 : CHEMICAL & PHYSICAL CHANGES

                             The "Non-Burning Dollar Bill"

Chemical Concept or Topic: -

• Combustion
• Observations
• Volatile Liquids

Materials: -

• Dollar Bill (paper towel if you are cheap)
• 50% Alcohol-Water mixture
• Match
• Tongs
• Beaker

Cautions:

1. Alcohol is very flammable. Containers and beakers with the alcohol in it should be closed and kept far away from sources of fire and heat.

2. A fire extinguisher should be kept nearby.

3. Alcohol can be very harmful to the eyes. Wear eye-protection.

Procedure:

1. Before class prepare a 50% Alcohol-Water mixture by placing 50 ml of water and 50 ml of isopropyl alcohol (ethanol or methanol can be substituted) in a beaker. Stir and mix it well.
2. When class begins take out a one-dollar bill. Soak the dollar bill in the alcohol-water mixture.
3. With a pair of tongs take the dollar bill out of the solution and let it drip off a bit.
4. Ignite the dollar bill with a match or lighter.
5. The alcohol should burn off and the dollar bill should not ignite. If it appears that the dollar bill is beginning to ignite, stamp it out.

Questions:

1. Explain why the dollar bill did not ignite and yet we observed flames.
2. Why did the teacher use a water and alcohol mixture, compared to a pure alcohol solution?

Explanations:

1. The dollar bill did not ignite even though we observed flames because it had been soaked in an alcohol-water mixture. The alcohol burned before the dollar bill could. However, a lot of heat was given off by the burning of the alcohol. This heat could be enough to bring the dollar bill to its ignition temperature (451 degrees Fahrenheit). However, much of the heat is given off to the air. After the heat is given off to the surrounding air there may still be enough heat being given off by the burning alcohol to ignite the dollar bill. This is why water was used with the alcohol. Water has a tremendous ability to absorb heat energy. Any heat that may have been able to ignite the dollar bill was absorbed by the water. One could test to see if this is accurate by using a 100% alcohol solution. I would not recommend using a dollar bill, but would suggest a paper towel. The alcohol will burn furiously and will give off much heat to the atmosphere, but will also give enough heat to the paper towel to bring it to its ignition temperature. The paper towel will be charred at the end of the demonstration.
2. Water is used with the alcohol rather than a pure 100 % alcohol solution for two main reasons. Pure alcohol would burn violently and be too great of a hazard. Secondly, the water is very important in keeping the dollar bill from reaching its ignition temperature, because the water absorbs a lot of heat energy.

References:

Shakhashiri, Bassam Z. Chemical Demonstrations Volume 1. Madison, Wisconsin:

The University of Wisconsin Press, 1983.

Veltkamp, Pamela. Dordt College General Chemistry. Sioux Center, IA: 1991-1992.

The Federation Board of the Protestant Reformed Christian Schools commissioned Joel Minderhoud to develop this Repertoire of Chemical Demonstrations

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