Science Experiments

Nefarious · 3 Sep 2013 at 15:30

It's a friend's birthday and I'm planning to put together a few fun science experiments for the party. He'll be 34, but being massively geeky will find these sorts of thing fun.

So far my list includes:

Superheated & supercooled fluids
Pressure collapsing of an aluminium can
Sucking an egg into a milk bottle
Mixing aluminum foil with KOH and setting fire to the gas (or just letting the bottle explode)
Making a cardboard boat powered by a tea light
Cornflour and water on a speaker
A Gaussian rifle
Model of lungs using a balloon and rubber diaphragm
Homemade sparklers (using barium nitrate)
Also considering Nitrogen Triiodide formation from iodine and ammonia

Any more suggestions?

Nefarious · 3 Sep 2013 at 15:42

I have safety goggles

Nefarious · 3 Sep 2013 at 15:48

OldCoals said:
Have you considered beer and strippers?

He has a boyfriend, I don't think either of them are into strippers, but I'll certainly be having some beer

Nefarious · 3 Sep 2013 at 15:52

AHarvey said:
I have some massively geeky friends ....they still prefer a beer and women at parties! Or in your case, male stripper!

I wouldn't be comfortable with having a male stripper in the house, if he wants to do that on his own time, that's his business, but for now I'll stick with the science experiments.

Nefarious · 3 Sep 2013 at 19:46

You all seem to be obsessing slightly over the fact that my friend is gay, seriously, get over it, the only reason I mentioned it was because of the stripper comment.

Secondly, I'm more than happy using 'dangerous' chemicals, I'm just used to using slightly more interesting equipment than a magnetron and a primus stove, but am seeing what I can do. The whole point of the superheated fluid is for the sudden phase transition into gas, what's the point of a science experiment without a bit of shock and awe?

I've decided to try and get some over proofed vodka and detergent to precipitate out DNA in a shot glass.

Nefarious · 3 Sep 2013 at 22:39

Kevin Clark said:
That's fine but I just know from 20 years of lab experience that I wouldn't mess with superheated liquids for a party trick.

People often inadvertently create superheated fluids all the time when boiling water in a microwave. It's a question of volume and care, considering I'll be mixing aluminium with KOH, I'm surprised you're more worried about a bit of hot water....