Hello All!
Hopefully I will get some good insight from all you fantastic chemists out there! Here is my situation:
I am a Biochemistry student (hardly chemistry, I know), and although I have take 2 general chem. courses and 2 O. chem courses I still know very little about chemistry. Ah the wonders of science. Anyways, I am part of a mentoring program for at-risk youth and would love to do the "elephant toothpaste" KI, H2O2 catalyzed decomposition reaction. But I've heard 3% H2O2 is no good, and 17.5% "food grade" is too expensive for my college budget...
Is it possible to concentrate the 3% to maybe 15% safely? Keep in mind I only have a stove and some glassware, and lab glasses are the extent of my safety wear. I hear quite a bit about combustible vapors and things of that nature. Can this be avoided by not boiling the H2O2 dilute and merely warming it for H2O evaporation? Any advice here is appreciated!
Please keep in mind I am looking for advice, especially concerning safety. Please do not crush my mostly biological and little chemistry scientific spirit by telling me I'm foolish for inquiring. I'm not a chemist and I know that. Cheers!
Also, if you have any other cool science presentations that are cheap but would wow middle school/high school students please let me know!
THANKS EVERYONE!!!
