Blue Sodium Chloride - Periodic Table of Videos

Summary

In an intriguing experiment, Neil and the narrator attempt to create a blue sodium chloride using a eutectic mixture of sodium and potassium chlorides. They heat the mixture until it melts, then introduce a grain of metallic sodium, which causes a bright flash and the formation of a bluish hue. The experiment suggests that excess sodium or nanoparticles of metallic sodium could be responsible for the color change. Despite the final product not being as blue as expected, the experiment successfully demonstrates the alteration of material properties through chemical variations.

Takeaways

• 📧 The video starts with an email from an acquaintance named Artem, suggesting a method to turn sodium chloride (NaCl) blue.
• 🔬 The recipe involves mixing sodium chloride with potassium chloride and heating the mixture until it melts, utilizing the concept of a eutectic mixture.
• 🌡 The melting point of pure sodium chloride is higher than that of a test tube, but when mixed with potassium chloride, the mixture melts at a lower temperature.
• 🔥 Neil heats the mixture, which initially melts at the bottom while the top remains solid, requiring additional heat from a gas gun to fully melt the mixture.
• 💡 Upon adding a grain of metallic sodium to the molten salt, there is a bright flash of light, indicating a chemical reaction.
• 🟦 After the sodium dissolves, a bluish color appears on one side of the test tube, suggesting that the experiment has partially succeeded in creating blue sodium chloride.
• 🧪 The experiment suggests that the blue coloration could be due to excess sodium creating spare electrons, or the formation of fine nanoparticles of metallic sodium.
• 🛠 To remove the cooled mixture from the test tube, Neil uses a hammer, indicating the mixture's solidification.
• 🧩 The final product is a mixture of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and sodium, with the sodium chloride appearing slightly blue.
• 🤔 There is some debate over why the sodium chloride turns blue, with two main theories presented in the video.
• 💧 Adding water to the final product causes fizzing, which is likely due to the reaction of excess sodium with water.
• 📚 Both Neil and the narrator feel they have learned something new about the properties of materials and how altering their composition can change these properties.

Q & A

What was the main purpose of the experiment described in the script?

The main purpose of the experiment was to create a blue-colored sodium chloride using a recipe that involves mixing sodium chloride and potassium chloride and heating it.

Why is it challenging to melt pure sodium chloride?

Pure sodium chloride is challenging to melt because its melting point is higher than the melting point of a typical test tube, making it difficult to heat without breaking the container.

What is a eutectic mixture and how does it relate to the experiment?

A eutectic mixture is a mixture of two or more substances that melts at a lower temperature than either of its pure components. In the experiment, mixing sodium chloride with potassium chloride forms a eutectic mixture that melts at a lower temperature, facilitating the heating process.

What additional tool did Neil use to heat the mixture effectively?

Neil used an extra gas gun to heat the mixture effectively, especially since the bottom part of the mixture began to melt while the top part remained solid.

What was the significance of adding a grain of metallic sodium to the molten salt?

Adding a grain of metallic sodium to the molten salt was a crucial step in the recipe to induce a chemical reaction that resulted in the formation of a blue color in the sodium chloride.

Why did the test tube bend during the experiment?

The test tube bent due to the intense heat from the gas gun, which caused the glass to soften and bend without breaking, as glass does not have a precise melting point.

What color change was observed in the test tube after adding sodium?

After adding sodium, a bluish color appeared on one side of the test tube, indicating that the sodium was reacting with the molten salt mixture.

What are the two main theories proposed for the blue coloration of sodium chloride in the experiment?

The two main theories are: 1) the presence of excess sodium providing spare electrons, causing the solid to turn blue, similar to sodium dissolved in liquid ammonia, and 2) the formation of very fine nanoparticles of metallic sodium distributed throughout the solid, which appear blue.

What happened when water was added to the cooled sodium chloride?

When water was added to the cooled sodium chloride, there was some fizzing, which is likely due to the reaction of excess sodium with water, producing hydrogen gas and sodium hydroxide.

What did Neil and the narrator learn from the experiment?

Neil and the narrator learned that materials like sodium chloride can have different properties, such as color, when altered with additional elements like sodium or chlorine, demonstrating the versatility of materials and their properties.

What was the final step described in the script after the experiment?

The final step described was putting the remaining sodium into a cold bath to stop the ammonia from boiling off, indicating a safety measure to handle the reactive metal.