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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 1997  > December  >
In the Classroom
Tested Demonstrations
Acid Rain Demonstration: The Formation of Nitrogen Oxides as a By-Product of High-Temperature Flames in Connection with Internal Combustion Engines
Jerry A. Driscoll
University of Utah, Department of Chemistry, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Cover
December 1997
Vol. 74 No. 12
p. 1424
Abstract
This demonstration illustrates the formation of nitrogen oxides resulting from a high temperature flame. The procedure is to burn hydrogen from a delivery tube in a 6 liter erlenmeyer flask filled with oxygen. (see original paper for safety precautions.) As the burning proceeds the water from the combustion condenses on the wall of the flask and eventually drips from the mouth of the flask. Air displaces the oxygen consumed. The nitrogen from the air reacts with the oxygen in the presence of the high temperature flame in the flask forming colorless nitric oxide which reacts further to form visible brown nitrogen dioxide in the flask. After the burn water can be introduced into the flask , capped, and shaken. An acid mist forms which slowly dissolves. An acid-base indicator will show that the solution is acid at about a pH 1-2 from nitrous and nitric acid. Nitrogen oxides do not form until the temperature is at least 1300 °C. The hydrogen flame in this demonstration is in the neighborhood of 3000 °C.

Editor's Note: Please read Charles Braun's letter regarding the safety issues of the demonstration (JCE 1999, 76, 757).

See Letter re: this article.
More Information
*  Citation
 Driscoll, Jerry A. J. Chem. Educ. 1997 74 1424.
*  Keywords
 Demonstrations, Environmental Chemistry, Equilibrium, Teaching/Learning Theory/Practice, Teaching/Learning Aids, and Water
*  History
 Created:
Last Updated:		 July 20, 1999
June 23, 2005
Link to Letter added (May 2004).
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