Element Collection

Element Collection

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Golden Rain

This post is the video companion to this video.

This experiment is hands-down the most beautiful chemistry demonstration I've ever seen. I'll be synthesizing lead(II) iodide, which has a beautiful golden yellow color. This experiment is especially striking because this bright yellow solid is produced from two water-clear solutions.

Materials
  • 1.0 g Potassium Iodide, KI
  • 0.8 g Lead Nitrate, Pb(NO3)2
  • 500 mL Distilled Water
Reaction
Pb(NO3)2 (aq) + 2KI (aq) --> 2KNO3 (aq) + PbI2 (s)