Video Library
Our typical experience is that very few things react with the air around us. However, this is not always true, although many of the reactions are very slow. Here are a selection of the faster ones.
| Reaction of air with aluminium | Reaction of air with lithium |
| Reaction of air with magnesium | Reaction of air with potassium |
| Reaction of air with phosphorus | Reaction of air with sodium |
| Reaction of air with sulfur |
Most of the time, it is the oxygen in the air that is reacting, and reactions with pure oxygen are even more spectacular.
| Reaction of oxygen with potassium | Reaction of oxygen with lithium |
| Reaction of oxygen with sodium in a flask | Reaction of oxygen with sodium in a tube |
| Reaction of oxygen with magnesium | Reaction of oxygen with aluminium |
| Reaction of oxygen with sulfur | Reaction of oxygen with phosphorus |
| Reaction of oxygen with silicon |
In some cases even the less-reactive nitrogen in the air reacts rapidly. Plants do this all the time, but this reaction is not particularly exciting to watch, although it is essential to all life on earth.
| Reaction of lithium with nitrogen |
Water also reacts rapidly with many elements and simple compounds.
| Reaction of water with aluminium trichloride | Reaction of water with phosphorus pentachloride |
| Reaction of water with disulfur dichloride | Reaction of water with silicon tetrachloride |
| Reaction of water with sodium chloride and magnesium chloride |
Chlorine is a highly reactive gas, and reacts rapidly with many elements. A selection of these reactions are demonstrated.
| Reaction of chlorine with aluminium | Reaction of chlorine with lithium |
| Reaction of chlorine with magnesium | Reaction of chlorine with potassium |
| Reaction of chlorine with phosphorus | Reaction of chlorine with silicon |
| Reaction of chlorine with sodium in a flask | Reaction of chlorine with sodium in a tube |
| Reaction of chlorine with sulfur |
Bromine and iodine also undergo interesting reactions.
| Reaction of bromine with sodium | Reaction of bromine with aluminium |
| Reaction of iodine with lithium | Reaction of iodine with aluminium |
These elements, and their preparation, are also interesting and exciting.
| Laboratory preparation of oxygen | Laboratory preparation of chlorine |
| Physical states of chlorine | Physical states of bromine |
| Physical states of iodine |