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The Ammonia Smoke Fountain: An Interesting Thermodynamic Adventure

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M. Dale Alexander

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003

Daniel T. Haworth

Department of Chemistry, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53201

J. Chem. Educ., 1999, 76 (2), p 210

DOI: 10.1021/ed076p210

Publication Date (Web): February 1, 1999

Abstract

The ammonia smoke fountain demonstration utilizes a modification of the apparatus used in the standard ammonia fountain. The modification allows for the introduction of hydrogen chloride gas into a flask of ammonia rather than water. The flow rate of hydrogen chloride gas into the flask in the smoke fountain is not constant, but periodic; that is, the smoke puffs from the end of the tube. This unexpected behavior elicits an interesting thermodynamic explanation.

Keywords (Audience):

High School / Introductory Chemistry

Keywords (Domain):

Demonstrations

Keywords (Feature):

Tested Demonstrations

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Misconceptions / Discrepant Events

Keywords (Subject):

Acids / Bases

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Citing Articles

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This article has been cited by 3 ACS Journal articles (3 most recent appear below).

Carbon Dioxide Fountain
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Journal of Chemical Education2007 84 (10), 1671
- Carbon Dioxide Fountain
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  Journal of Chemical Education2007 84 (10), 1671
  This article presents the development of a carbon dioxide fountain. The advantages of the carbon dioxide fountain are that it is odorless and uses consumer chemicals. This experiment also is a nice visual experiment that allows students to see evidence of ...
  Abstract | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links
Two "Gas-in-a-Bag" Reactions To Show the Predictive Power of the Relative Acid–Base Strength Chart
Brett Criswell , Holly M. Bevsek , Carole Bennett
Journal of Chemical Education2006 83 (8), 1167
- Two "Gas-in-a-Bag" Reactions To Show the Predictive Power of the Relative Acid–Base Strength Chart
  Brett Criswell , Holly M. Bevsek , Carole Bennett
  Journal of Chemical Education2006 83 (8), 1167
  High-school chemistry curricula have often been maligned for being too long on theoryand too short on applied chemistry. Certainly, very little consideration is given in most curricula to the rich arena of descriptive chemistry, particularly helping ...
  Abstract | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links
Ammonia Can Crush
Ed Vitz , Daniel T. Haworth
Journal of Chemical Education1999 76 (7), 932
- Ammonia Can Crush
  Ed Vitz , Daniel T. Haworth
  Journal of Chemical Education1999 76 (7), 932
  When a 12-oz aluminum soft drink can filled with ammonia or hydrogen chloride gas is inverted and dipped into water, the rapidly dissolving gas evacuates the can and the can is crushed before water can be drawn into it. This demonstrates, among other ...
  Abstract | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links