Monday, December 16, 2013

HOW TO ELECTROPLATE AN IRON NAIL WITH COPPER!!!

Have you ever noticed the shiny handles of a bicycle? Do you know why is it shiny? This is because a material has been coated with chromium. If you scratch this surface you would find a very dull material inside! Lets see how to electroplate an iron nail with copper!!

Materials Required:
1 Copper Plate
1 Iron Nail
Copper Sulphate
1 Beaker
1 Battery
250 ml Distilled Water
Dilute Sulphuric acid (to speed up the process; optional)
Sandpaper
Some Wires

Instructions
In a glass beaker put 250 ml of distilled water.

Dissolve 2 teaspoonful of copper sulphate. Then add a few drops of dilute sulphuric acid.

Clean the iron nail and copper sulphate with sand paper, wash with water and then leave for drying.

Connect the nail to the negative terminal of the battery through a wire, and the copper plate with the positive terminal, dip put them (they are called "electrodes") in the copper sulphate solution and leave them for 15 minutes.

Observation: The nail is coated with copper!

What Is Happening??
When electricity is passed through the solution, copper sulphate breaks up into copper and sulphate. The copper is deposited on the electrode connected to the negative terminal (iron nail). But what about the loss of copper in the solution? Well, the copper plates replace the amount of loss copper in the solution. Hence, we can say that we are using the copper plate to electroplate the iron nail! 

Saturday, December 14, 2013

UNDERSTANDING TASTE BUDS!

Have you wondered how can you taste your food/beverage etc? Well lets try this simple experiment!

Materials Required:
Punch Hole machine
Sheet Of Paper
Cotton Ball
Food Coloring
Mirror

Instructions

 Use A punch hole machine to make a small hole in the sheet of paper.

Take a cotton ball, dip in in the food coloring and wipe the color on your entire tongue

Put the colored part of your tongue through the hole, in the paper and look in the mirror. Count the round bumps in the paper hole.

If you have 25 or more than 25 bumps, it means your taste is very sensitive ie; your sense of taste is awesome!!! If you have below this number you are a ordinary taster.

Information On The Tongue:
  • A tongue has 4 basic types of taste buds: bitter, sour, salty and sweet.
  • The more taste buds you have the better your sense of taste is
  • Taste buds are replaced every 1 to 2 weeks.





Friday, December 13, 2013

HOW TO MAKE CANDLES FROM WAX CRAYONS!!!!

Let's make candles from wax crayons!

Materials

Wax crayons

Pan

String

Spoon

Skewers

Paper Cup

Instructions
Put the wax crayons into the pan and melt them over low heat and stir the crayons around gently.

While the wax is melting, make a small hole in the paper cup with the help of a skewer and put the string through the hole and then tie a knot underneath, the string should be long enough so that you can hang your candle to dry.

Now pour the wax into the paper cup, then hang it in a dry place for it to dry.

After 4 to 5 hours take the candle out and cut the thread (make sure that there is at least 1 cm of thread remaining at the top for the wick)

You are now ready to use your homemade candle!!!