Home holidays are not complete without exciting pranks, jokes and small performances. Everyone wants to surprise guests, but what to do if it is not possible to arrange fireworks, and the protracted evening promises to be languid? It's time to conduct simple and exciting experiments that will remain in the memory of your guests for a long time.

To conduct the experiment at home, you will need simple ingredients that can be found in any kitchen.

Soda powder for exciting chemical experiments

The properties of soda are known not only in cooking and in industry - they can be successfully used to perform harmless and quick tricks that will enchant with their entertainment. One of the most simple tricks, accessible even to children, involves inflating a balloon placed on the neck of a bottle of soda and vinegar.

Another very simple and common experience for little ones is a volcanic eruption. The child himself can participate in this experience - he will have to mold a real volcano with a deep crater out of plasticine. Soda diluted with a well-soaped detergent is placed at the bottom of the volcano, and a small amount of vinegar is poured on top. The soda will begin to rage, soapy lava will begin to run out of the volcano, and the eruption will not stop until all the soda is extinguished.

Such simple experiments, unfortunately, only impress children. In order to please children 8-11 years old, they need to show a serious and dangerous chemical reaction that will give birth to a real monster, like from a horror movie - a pharaoh's snake.

"Pharaoh's Snake"

The basic principle by which this experiment occurs is a series of chemical reactions accompanied by an increase in the volume of the ingredients involved in the reaction. All changes occur so quickly that it gives the impression of a snake appearing, wriggling and rushing upward. A biblical parable played a certain role here, according to which Moses’ staff turned into a snake as soon as it fell into the sand. A similar rebel snake can be repeated at home.

During the reaction, the resulting substance increases rapidly, while wriggling like a snake

For the sake of fairness, we note that the most spectacular experience is manifested with mercury thiocyanate, ammonium nitrate and potassium dichromate. Strong acidic compounds can also be added here. A chemical reaction with such components would be remembered for a long time, but these ingredients are not only inaccessible to the average person, they are quite poisonous and harmful for use at home. However, this does not mean at all that the focus is canceled - not at all, all the necessary ingredients can be found at home.

How the experiment is carried out

To carry out the experiment you will need a certain amount of sugar, alcohol, soda and sand. If you have powdered sugar, it is better to use it, because the sugar will still have to be crushed in a coffee maker or blender.

So, we pour a small pile of sand and soak it in alcohol, gradually pouring pure ethanol 96% into the sand. Then we make a depression at the top of the hill. In a separate bowl, mix the soda and crushed sugar well to obtain a homogeneous consistency. Soda should be taken four times less sugar. For example, for 1 tsp. a spoonful of soda is needed 4 tsp. Sahara. The resulting mixture is poured into a hole in the sand. Then comes the most crucial moment - you need to set fire to sugar, soda, alcohol and sand. This must be done carefully, preferably using a match to control the flame and rotate the match throughout.

When a fire occurs, chemical reactions, enhanced by high temperature, will begin to occur. Externally, the sand will begin to turn into dark-colored balls, and when the alcohol burns, the mixture will become almost black, and the so-called Pharaoh’s snake will begin to form from it.

The secret of this experiment is simple - sugar and soda will react, the soda will decompose into carbon dioxide and steam, which will lead to “movement” of the mass, and the body of the snake will be formed from the remains of the fire. Set fire to a similar mixture a second time - and the snake will have the same girlfriend!

When alcohol burns, a decomposition reaction of soda and sugar occurs. Soda decomposes into carbon dioxide and water vapor. Gases swell the mass, so our “snake” crawls and wriggles

The experience with the pharaoh snake is quite simple, at the same time it is spectacular and always surprises others. It's hard to even believe that the ingredients we use in cooking have such magical properties. However, it is sugar, soda and alcohol that can provide a mini-show at a home party.

Exciting games with chemical experiments

You can carry out the experiment on children's day birth, having previously prepared all the components. From this trick, children can triple the real quest - hide the components necessary for the pharaoh's snake, and ask the children to find them. Access to each ingredient will not be easy; quest participants will have to solve a number of puzzles and ingenuity tasks, win several competitions and show off their talents. Only after this, at each stage, will they receive the treasured components for the experience.

Security questions

When conducting experiments, it is important to remember safety precautions. It is best if all dangerous activities are carried out by adults. To conduct the experiment, you need to use a clean table surface, where you place fireproof material in case a burning particle falls. When we set fire to the mixture, it is recommended to monitor the level of fire - the sand should not ignite too much, otherwise it means that the proportions are incorrect.

When conducting any experiments, it is important to protect your eyes and hands from negative external influences, so your hands should be wearing rubber gloves, and your eyes should be protected with goggles.

All experiments are carried out in such a way that if a threatening situation arises, it can be immediately neutralized. Therefore, just in case, you need to keep a bucket of water or sand near the place of the magical action. If the experience gets out of control, water or sand can extinguish the fiery flame.

For many, chemistry lessons are a real torment. But if you understand at least a little about this subject, you can carry out entertaining experiments and enjoy it. And it wouldn’t hurt for teachers to get their students interested. The so-called pharaoh snakes are perfect for this.

origin of name

No one knows for sure the origin of the name “Pharaoh’s snakes”, but it is dated to biblical events. In order to impress Pharaoh, the prophet Moses, on the advice of the Lord, threw his staff on the ground, and it turned into a snake. Once in the hands of the chosen one, the reptile again became a staff. Although in fact there is nothing in common between how these experiences are obtained and biblical events.

What can you get "pharaoh snakes" from?

The most common substance used to produce snakes is mercury thiocyanate. However, experiments with it can only be carried out in a well-equipped chemical laboratory. The substance is toxic and has an unpleasant, persistent odor. And a “pharaoh’s snake” at home can be created from tablets that are sold in any pharmacy without a prescription, or mineral fertilizers from a hardware store. To conduct the experiment, calcium gluconate, methenamine, soda, powdered sugar, saltpeter and many substances that can be purchased at a pharmacy or store are used.

"Snakes" from tablets containing sulfonamides

The easiest way to conduct the “Pharaoh’s snakes” experiment at home is from the medicinal group. These are products such as “Streptotsid”, “Biseptol”, “Sulfadimezin”, “Sulfadimethoxin” and others. Almost everyone has one in their home. "Pharaoh's snakes" from sulfonamides turn out shiny gray, their structure resembles corn sticks. If you carefully grab the “head” of the snake with a clamp or tweezers, you can pull out a fairly long reptile from one tablet.

In order to perform the “Pharaoh’s Snake”, you will need a burner or the above-mentioned medications. Several tablets are laid out on which is set on fire. During the reaction, substances such as nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide and water vapor are released. The reaction formula is as follows:

C 11 H 12 N 4 O 2 S+7O 2 = 28C+2H 2 S+2SO 2 +8N 2 +18H 2 O

Such an experiment must be carried out very carefully, since sulfur dioxide is very toxic, just like hydrogen sulfide. Therefore, if it is not possible to ventilate the room during the experiment or turn on the hood, it is better to do this outside or in a specially equipped laboratory.

"Snakes" from calcium gluconate

It is best to conduct experiments using substances that are safe, even if used outside a specially equipped laboratory. "Pharaoh's snake" from calcium gluconate is obtained quite simply.

To do this, you will need 2-3 tablets of the drug and a cube of dry fuel. Under the influence of the flame, a reaction begins, and a gray “snake” crawls out of the tablet. Such experiments with calcium gluconate are quite safe, but you should still be careful when conducting them. The formula for the chemical reaction is as follows:

C 12 H 22 CaO 14 +O2 = 10C+2CO 2 +CaO+11H 2 O

As we can see, a reaction occurs with the release of water, carbon dioxide, carbon and calcium oxide. It is the release of gas that causes growth. "Pharaoh's snakes" are up to 15 centimeters long, but they are short-lived. When you try to pick them up, they fall apart.

"Pharaoh's snake" - how to make it from fertilizer?

If you have a vegetable garden personal plot or a dacha, then there are certainly various fertilizers. The most common one, which can be found in the pantry of any summer resident and farmer, is ammonium nitrate or ammonium nitrate. For the experiment you will need sifted river sand, half a teaspoon of saltpeter, half a teaspoon of powdered sugar, and a spoon of ethyl alcohol.

It is necessary to make a depression in the sand slide. The larger the diameter, the thicker the “snake” will be. A well-ground mixture of saltpeter and sugar is poured into the recess and filled with ethyl alcohol. Then the alcohol is set on fire, and a “snake” is gradually formed.

The reaction then occurs as follows:

2NH 4 NO 3 + C 12 H 22 O 11 = 11C + 2N 2 + CO 2 + 15H 2 O.

The release of toxic substances during the experiment requires compliance with safety precautions.

"Pharaoh's snake" from food products

"Pharaoh's snakes" are obtained not only from medicines or fertilizers. For experience, you can use products such as sugar and soda. Such components can be found in any kitchen. From river sand a slide with a depression is formed and soaked in alcohol. Powdered sugar and baking soda are mixed in a 4:1 ratio and poured into the recess. The alcohol is set on fire.

The mixture begins to turn black and slowly swell. When the alcohol almost stops burning, several wriggling “reptiles” crawl out of the sand. The reaction is as follows:

2NaHCO 3 = Na 2 CO 3 + H 2 O - + CO 2,

C 2 H 5 OH + 3O 2 = 2CO 2 + 3H 2 O

The mixture decomposes into carbon dioxide and water vapor. It is the gases that cause soda ash to swell and grow, which does not burn during the reaction.

Another "reptile" from the tablet

There is another easy way to get the "Pharaoh's snake" from medicines. To do this, you will need to purchase the drug "Urotropin" at the pharmacy. Instead of tablets, you can also use dry fuel containing this substance. You will also need a solution of ammonium nitrate. The drug "Urotropin" must be soaked in it. However, you cannot immediately apply the entire solution to the source material, so you need to add a few drops and dry. In this case, drying should occur at room temperature.

After this, the tablet is set on fire. The result is not so much a “snake” as a “dragon”. However, if you look at it, it's the same Pharaoh's Snakes experience. But due to the properties of the components, a more violent reaction occurs, which leads to the formation of a three-dimensional figure.

"Snake" made of mercury thiocyanate

First chemical experiment"Pharaoh's Snake" was created by a medical student in 1820. Friedrich Wöhler mixed solutions of mercuric nitrate and ammonium thiocyanate and obtained a white crystalline precipitate. The student dried the resulting precipitate of mercury thiocyanate and set it on fire just out of curiosity. A black and yellow snake-like mass began to crawl out of the burning substance.

"Pharaoh's snakes" from mercury thiocyanate are easy to make. The substance must be set on fire on a heat-resistant surface. The reaction will follow:

2Hg(NCS) 2 = 2HgS + C 3 N 4 + CS 2

CS 2 + 3O 2 = CO 2 + 2SO 2

Under thermal influence, mercury thiocyanate decomposes into mercury sulfide (gives the “reptile” a black color), carbon nitride (responsible for the yellow color of the snake) and carbon disulfide (carbon disulfide). The latter ignites and decomposes into gases - carbon dioxide and sulfur oxide, which swell carbon nitride. It, in turn, captures and the result is black and yellow “pharaoh’s snakes”.

Under no circumstances should this experiment be carried out in home conditions! In addition to the release of toxic gases, mercury vapor is released. Mercury itself is poisonous and can cause severe chemical poisoning.

Safety during experiments

Despite the fact that most of the substances from which “pharaoh snakes” can be obtained are considered safe, experiments must be carried out very carefully. As can be seen from the above formulas, during decomposition quite toxic components are released that can lead to severe poisoning. All experiments can be carried out at home only in a ventilated area or with a high-power hood. Experiments with mercury thiocyanate can only be carried out in a specially equipped laboratory, observing all safety regulations.

In conclusion, we can say that by conducting the “Pharaoh’s Snakes” chemical experiment in class, the teacher can interest students in his subject. Even those who do not understand and do not like chemistry will most likely be interested in the lesson. And those who prefer practice instead of boring theoretical calculations will receive an additional incentive to study science.

A large black snake grows out of a pile of sugar and soda

Complexity:

Danger:

Do this experiment at home

Reagents

Safety

Wear safety glasses before starting the experiment.

Conduct the experiment on a tray.

When conducting the experiment, keep a container of water nearby.

Place the burner on a cork stand. Do not touch the burner immediately after completing the experiment - wait until it cools down.

General safety rules

• Do not allow chemicals to come into contact with your eyes or mouth.
• Keep people away from the experiment site without protective glasses, as well as small children and animals.
• Keep the experimental kit out of the reach of children under 12 years of age.
• Wash or clean all equipment and fixtures after use.
• Ensure that all reagent containers are tightly closed and stored properly after use.
• Make sure all disposable containers are disposed of correctly.
• Use only the equipment and reagents provided in the kit or recommended by current instructions.
• If you have used a food container or glassware for experiments, throw it away immediately. They are no longer suitable for storing food.

First aid information

• If reagents come into contact with your eyes, rinse thoroughly with water, keeping the eye open if necessary. Contact your doctor immediately.
• If swallowed, rinse mouth with water and drink a little clean water. Do not induce vomiting. Contact your doctor immediately.
• If reagents are inhaled, remove the victim to fresh air.
• In case of skin contact or burns, flush the affected area with plenty of water for 10 minutes or longer.
• If in doubt, consult a doctor immediately. Take the chemical reagent and its container with you.
• In case of injury, always seek medical attention.

• Improper use of chemicals can cause injury and damage to health. Carry out only the experiments specified in the instructions.
• This set of experiences is intended for children 12 years and older only.
• Children's abilities vary significantly even within age groups. Therefore, parents conducting experiments with their children should use their own discretion to decide which experiments are appropriate and safe for their children.
• Parents should discuss safety rules with their child or children before experimenting. Special attention Care should be taken to safely handle acids, alkalis and flammable liquids.
• Before starting experiments, clear the experiment site of objects that may interfere with you. Avoid storing food near the test site. The testing area should be well ventilated and close to a tap or other water source. To conduct experiments, you will need a stable table.
• Substances in disposable packaging must be used completely or disposed of after one experiment, i.e. after opening the package.

FAQ

Dry fuel (urotropine) does not spill out of the jar. What to do?

Hexamine may clump during storage. To still pour it out of the jar, take a black stick from the set and carefully break up the lumps.

It is not possible to form methenamine. What to do?

If methenamine is not pressed in the mold, pour it into a plastic cup and add 4 drops of water. Mix the moistened powder well and put it back into the mold.

You can also add 3 drops of soap solution from the Tin set that you received with the Monster Chemistry set.

Can this snake be eaten or touched?

When working with chemicals, you need to follow an unshakable rule: never taste anything that you get as a result of chemical reactions. Even if in theory it is a safe product. Life is often richer and more unpredictable than any theory. The product you get may not be the one you expected, chemical glassware may contain traces of previous reactions, and chemical reagents may not be pure enough. Experiments with tasting reagents can end sadly.

This is why eating anything is prohibited in professional laboratories. Even the food you brought with you. Safety first!

Is it possible to touch the “snake”? Be careful, it may be hot! The coal that makes up the snake can smolder. Make sure the snake is cool enough to handle. The snake gets dirty - don’t forget to wash your hands after the experiment!

Other experiments

Step-by-step instruction

Take a dry fuel burner from the starter kit and place foil on it. Attention! Use a cork stand to avoid damaging your work surface.

Place the plastic ring in the center of the foil.

Pour all the dry fuel (2.5 g) into the ring.

Press the mold into the ring to create a hole in the pile of dry fuel. Carefully remove the mold.

Remove the plastic ring by tapping it lightly.

Pour two level scoops of sugar (2 g) into a jar with 0.5 g of soda (NaHCO3) and close it with a lid.

Shake the jar for 10 seconds to mix the sugar and soda.

Pour the baking soda and sugar mixture into the hole in the dry fuel.

Set fire to dry fuel - very soon a black “snake” will begin to grow from this hill!

Expected Result

Dry fuel will begin to burn. A mixture of sugar and soda in the fire will begin to turn into a large black “snake”. If you do everything correctly, you will grow a snake 15-35 cm long.

Disposal

Recycle solid waste experiment together with household waste.

What happened

Why is such a “snake” formed?

When heated, part of the sugar (C 12 H 22 O 11) burns, turning into water vapor and carbon dioxide. Combustion requires an influx of oxygen. Since the flow of oxygen into the internal areas of the sugar slide is difficult, another process occurs there: due to high temperature, sugar decomposes into coal and water vapor. This is how our “snake” turns out.

Why is soda (NaHCO 3) added to sugar?

When heated, soda decomposes, releasing carbon dioxide (CO 2):

Soda is added to the dough to make it fluffy when baking. And that is why we add soda to sugar in this experiment - so that the released carbon dioxide and water vapor make the “snake” airy and light. Therefore the snake can grow upward.

What is this “snake” made of?

Basically, the “snake” consists of coal, which was obtained by heating sugar and did not burn in the fire. It is coal that gives the “snake” its black color. It also contains Na 2 CO 3, resulting from the decomposition of soda when heated.

What chemical reactions occur during the formation of a “snake”?

• Combustion (combination with oxygen) of sugar:

C 12 H 22 O 11 + O 2 = CO 2 + H 2 O

• Thermal decomposition of sugar into carbon and water vapor:

C 12 H 22 O 11 → C + H 2 O

• Thermal decomposition baking soda for water vapor and carbon dioxide:

2NaHCO 3 → Na 2 CO 3 + H 2 O + CO 2

What is sugar and where does it come from?

A sugar molecule is made up of carbon (C), oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H) atoms. This is what she looks like:

To be honest, it's hard to see anything here. Download the MEL Chemistry app on your smartphone or tablet and you can look at a sugar molecule with different sides and better understand its structure. In the application, the sugar molecule is called Sucrose.

As you can see, this molecule consists of two parts, connected by an oxygen atom (O). You've probably heard the names of these two parts: glucose and fructose. They are also called simple sugars. Regular sugar is called compound sugar to emphasize that a sugar molecule is made up of several (two) simple sugars.

This is what these simple sugars look like:

fructose

Sugars are important building blocks of plants. During photosynthesis, plants produce simple sugars from water and carbon dioxide. The latter, in turn, can be combined into both short molecules (for example, sugar) and long chains. Starch and cellulose are long chains (polysugars) made up of simple sugars. Plants use them as building material and to store nutrients.

The longer the sugar molecule, the more difficult it is for our digestive system digest it. That's why we love sweets containing simple short sugars so much. But our bodies were not designed to rely primarily on simple sugars; they are rare in nature. Therefore, be careful with your consumption of sweets!

Why does soda (NaHCO 3) decompose when heated, but table salt (NaCl) does not?

This is not an easy question. First you need to understand what binding energy is.

Imagine a train carriage with a very uneven floor. This carriage has its own mountains, its own hollows, and depressions. A sort of small Switzerland in a carriage. A wooden ball rolls on the floor. If you let him go, he will roll down the slope until he reaches the bottom of one of the depressions. We say that the ball “wants” to occupy the position with minimum potential energy, which is just at the bottom of the depression. Similarly, atoms try to line up in a configuration in which the bond energy is minimal.

There are several subtle points here that I would like to draw your attention to. Firstly, remember that this explanation, which is said “on the fingers”, is not very accurate, but it will suit us for understanding the overall picture.

So where will the ball roll? To the lowest point of the carriage? No matter how it is! He will roll into the nearest depression. And, most likely, it will remain there. Maybe there is another depression on the other side of the mountain, deeper. Unfortunately, our ball “doesn’t know” this. But if the car shakes strongly, then with a high probability the ball will jump out of its local depression and “find” a deeper hole. There we shake a bucket of gravel to compact it. The gravel knocked out of the local minimum will most likely find a more optimal configuration, and our ball will sooner reach a deeper depression.

As you may have already guessed, in the microworld the analogue of shaking is temperature. When we heat a substance, we make the entire system “shake,” just as we rocked a carriage with a ball. Atoms are detached and reattached in the most different ways, and with a high probability they will be able to find a more optimal configuration than it was at the beginning. If it exists, of course.

We see such a process in very large quantities chemical reactions. The molecule is stable because it is located in a local depression. If we move it a little, it will get worse, and it will come back, similar to a ball, which, if you move it a little from the local depression to the side, will roll back. But it is necessary to heat this substance more strongly so that our “car” is shaken properly, and the molecule finds a more successful configuration. This is why dynamite won't explode unless you hit it. This is why the paper won't catch fire until you heat it up. They are happy in their local holes and need a noticeable effort to force them to leave, even if there is a deeper hole nearby.

Now we can return to our original question: why does baking soda (NaHCO 3) decompose when heated? Because it is in a state of local minimum binding energies. In a kind of depression. There is a deeper depression nearby. This is what we are talking about about the state when 2NaHCO 3 decayed into 2Na 2 CO 3 + H 2 O + CO 2. But the molecule does not “know” about this and until we heat it up, it will not be able to get out of its local hole in order to look around and find a deeper hole. But when we heat the soda to 100-200 degrees, this process will go quickly. Soda decomposes.

Why doesn't table salt NaCl break down in a similar way? Because she is already in the deepest hole. If it is broken into Na and Cl or any other combination of them, the bond energy will only increase.

If you've read this far, well done! This is not the simplest text and not the simplest thoughts. I hope you were able to learn something. I want to warn you at this point! As I said at the beginning, this is a beautiful explanation, but not entirely correct. There are situations when the ball in the carriage will tend to occupy a hole that is not the deepest. Likewise, our substance will not always tend to a state with minimal bond energy. But more about this some other time.

Experiment in a box No. 01: Pharaoh's snake.

Set from section: chemistry for children from 12 years old.

Experiment time: 15 minutes.

Difficulty level: 1 of 3

Set contents: dry fuel, calcium gluconate, ceramic tiles, instructions (+ video).

The set is positioned for children over 12 years old. But we did not indicate an age range, since we often receive feedback from parents and even grandparents that they themselves liked it no less than the children and that they want to repeat this experience again and again!

The composition contains everything you need: a ceramic non-flammable stand, dry fuel and calcium gluconate. To “wake up” a sleeping snake or an octopus with tentacles (as you like), just put all the ingredients on top of each other, according to the instructions, and set it on fire.

Calcium gluconate is a complex organic compound. It decomposes under the influence of temperature. The body of the “snake” is composed of calcium oxide and carbon. Since the reaction begins from the sides of the tablets, a curved muzzle appears first, then, when the flame engulfs the entire tablet, the body of the “snake” comes out.

Photos from our customers

Video with the experiment "Pharaoh's snake"

Reviews

Anonymous 1020279 11/22/2016 02:49

We made a “Pharaoh’s snake”, the child was delighted! I liked that everything was included, including ceramic tiles. All you need is matches :) The experience is very spectacular. I highly recommend it!

Thank you, Simple Science!

Maxim Trofimenko 14.11.2016 18:21

Of course, we received a lot of vivid emotions from the experiment. And naturally, we will summon the Pharaoh’s snake more than once. In general, the experiments are aimed at a children's audience, but something emerging from the fire is ready to fascinate anyone, regardless of age.

I wrote in detail about the experience with photos and videos on my blog (look for me in search engines as mazzoboardgamer)

Tatiana Prokofieva 10.11.2016 12:01

It was a magnificent sight. From a small tablet the body of the serpent-Gorynych grew in fire. The children were delighted. I would like to repeat this experiment more than once, using 2-3 sets at once, so that the snake is even more powerful. Highly recommend. I liked how the set was assembled - even the stand was made of stone for convenience and safety. The experiment can be done completely calmly at home - there are no strong odors, sparks do not fly away. A regular baking sheet or metal tray is good for conducting the experiment. After completing the experiment, what remains is just a pile of ash, which, without any residue or traces, can be easily shaken into the trash can.

Trywalking 09.11.2016 14:46

Spectacular, unusual, beautiful. As a mother, I was a little bothered by the presence chemical substances and fire, but it turned out that a small iron tray was enough - it solved all the problems. The snakes themselves came out in the form of ash, so they were easy to remove after the end of the experiment.

Belief in miracles begins in childhood. With an admiring glance, the child catches every move of the magician, with bated breath he watches the hat with the rabbit, with trepidation and hope he awaits a gift from his beloved magician. The spectacle and belief in miracles are necessary for children, and it wouldn’t hurt for adults to add a little fairy tale and delight to the everyday regularity. How to do it? Not that hard! You can please children, for example, with the appearance of a huge wriggling snake made of ordinary sand. Entertaining chemistry will come to the aid of children's animators, party organizers, creative parents, and caring teachers.

An ordinary miracle is a pharaoh's snake made of soda and sugar, growing out of burning sand. This will be remembered for a long time! An elementary trick can be easily performed at home, observing fire safety precautions.

And this monster appears from harmless soda!

One of the biblical parables tells that Moses' staff turned into a snake when it touched the sand at the feet of the ruler. The spectacular display of strength impressed the pharaoh in ancient times. Today, schoolchildren are surprised with the pharaoh's snake, clearly demonstrating the chemical reaction as a result of which the ingredients increase in volume quickly and many times over. What are these incredible substances? No magic, just sand, soda, sugar and alcohol.

Ordinary sand is poured onto a ceramic plate in a heap. This material is abundant on the banks of rivers. The top of the mound is leveled and a depression is made in it. The slide is soaked in alcohol. You will have to run to the pharmacy for ethanol in advance and stock up on at least two bottles, since sand absorbs liquid well. Spoon a mixture of soda and powdered sugar onto the significantly moistened mound. Proportion 1:4. For example, a spoonful of soda per four tablespoons of powdered sugar. These ingredients are available in any kitchen. If you don’t have powder, you can make it in half a minute by pouring granulated sugar into a coffee grinder.

Everything is ready, all that remains is to heat the components. It is safer to use a lighter with a long handle for ovens, as it is easier to light alcohol, sugar and soda, because they can flare up instantly.

Snake born from gluconate looks like something out of a horror movie

The essence of the trick

As the flames engulf the entire hill, the ingredients will begin to turn black, shrink, and then suddenly increase in size, forming into a twisting, thick snake. Under the influence high temperature a chemical reaction of soda decomposition occurs, it breaks down into water vapor and carbon dioxide. It is the gases obtained as a result of this process that loosen and swell the mass, forming a snake - the black product of burning sugar.

The experience itself lasts a few minutes, but the impression of the sight of the bending body of an almost real reptile is remembered for a long time. Baking soda is the safest ingredient for magic tricks, but there are other substances that can be used to demonstrate monsters.

Other experiments

Pharaoh's snake made of potassium permanganate

Manganese crystals dissolve amazingly beautifully in water, gradually coloring the liquid a soft lilac color, it seems that wonderful flowers have bloomed. It is this substance’s ability to color that is useful to the magician for demonstrating an unusual bright lilac-white snake, somewhat reminiscent of toothpaste for a giant.

Important! The experiment is carried out in a bathtub or sink, on an open lawn or on a sandy beach. There will be a lot of substance, so you shouldn’t risk an expensive carpet or a new sofa.

Ingredients:

• potassium permanganate from the pharmacy;
• a glass of tap water;
• liquid soap or "Fairy" for washing dishes;
• thirty percent hydrogen peroxide or one tablet of hydroperite from a pharmacy, diluted with water.

Lilac manganese crystals (a teaspoon) are dissolved in water, then foaming dishwashing detergent or regular liquid soap (also a spoon) is poured in. It is better to prepare the mixture in a narrow, tall glass vessel or vase. And the final touch - peroxide!

Attention! The reaction is immediate and violent. White-lilac dense foam literally erupts from the glass, resembling an exotic python. The column of this mass first rushes upward and then curls up into large rings.

True sand viper

Hexatropine snake

Hexamine is an antiseptic. Tablets need to be bought at a pharmacy. You will also need an aqueous ammonium solution concentrate. Add 10 drops of ammonium from a syringe or pipette onto one urotropine tablet, then dry it. And repeat this 4 times. The tablets are dried at room temperature; they cannot be heated.

When the urotropine dries, the tablet is set on fire on a ceramic saucer. The temperature rises, a reaction occurs, black balls appear, quickly merging into one tight mass, which begins to wriggle and grow. What came out of the tablet? Carbon, carbon dioxide, nitrogen - in general, gases that loosen the porous mass.

This is important to consider! The experiment will not succeed if you mix not the tablets (they contain talc and paraffin), but pure methenamine and ammonium nitrate.

Calcium Gluconate Pharaoh's Snake

One of the simplest and most accessible tricks is to set fire to calcium gluconate tablets using dry fuel. Each tablet will gradually form a gray snake with spots. And if you set fire to the entire blister, you will get a huge octopus crawling forward with its tentacles. The tiny starting material expands 15-20 times, forming calcium oxide, carbon, water and carbon dioxide. Isn't this magic?

Experiments are carried out only under adult supervision

Sulfonamide Snake

If you have expired streptocide or phthalazole, biseptol or sulgin in your home medicine cabinet, you can summon the spirit of a viper. For a chemical experiment, it is enough to place a sulfonamide tablet on dry fuel and set it on fire. The mass will swell, grow, and a noble viper with a metallic sheen will appear from the middle. However, the nature of this reptile is extremely cunning, it is truly poisonous. The pungent odor of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide produced can be harmful to health.

Safety precautions

Chemical experiments should be carried out carefully, observing basic safety rules:

• the experimenter puts on gloves and a robe;
• the surface must be fireproof;
• a bucket of water or sand is placed within reach;
• a fume hood must be provided for toxic gases;
• if the experiment is carried out outdoors, then the direction of the wind is taken into account;
• spectators do not come closer than 2 meters;
• the first aid kit should contain a remedy for burns;
• All experiments are carried out by an adult, children only watch.

And this is a whole octopus or hydra.

It’s better to see and do it once than to hear or learn it a hundred times. The child will remember the emotions he experienced during the demonstration and will plunge into the atmosphere of magic. A small everyday miracle out of nothing is quite accessible to everyone with the right organization.

Video: sand snake

Video: making a three-headed hydra