A Charles' Law Demonstration Rehatched Most high school and first-year college chemisttycourses include the study of gases as part of their curriculum. Demonstration apparatus for the gas laws is often complex, delicate and time consuming to set up; therefore, few gas law demonstrations are performed. The principles illustrated in demonstrations are often lost in the complex apparatus and/or ~ ~ the "Egg in calculations. Several papers dealing with Charles' Law have been published recently in this J ~ u r n a l , 'and a Bottle" demonstration is well k n o ~ n . ~ - V h following e modification eliminates all the extraneous variables and the mess of burnt paper or candle wax and allows s single egg to be used repeatedly. The materials needed are a peeled hard boiled large egg, a Bunsen burner, a 1-1Pyrex florence flask, ashallow pan and two ring stands. Gently heat the dry flask on a ring stand for about one minute. Remove the flask, wet the egg, place it in the opening of the flask and immerse the flask in the pan of cold water. The egg is quickly sucked into the flask. The egg is removed from the flask by placing the flask on thesecond ring stand inaninverted position so theegg lodges in the neck. Heat the wide part of the flask until the egg "plops" out onto the table! Not only can the eggs be used for egg salad, but also the true effect of temperatureon thevolume of a gas is illustrated in an eloquently simple and entertaining fashion.
' Sawyer, A. K., J. CHEM. EDUC., 47,573(1970).
Murdock, H. O., J. CHEM. EDUC., 50,528(1973). Ford, L. A,, 'Chemical Magic', Fawcett World Library, New York, 1959, pp. 47-8. "rrigoni, E., Sci. Teacher, 42(3), 53(1975). Shamas, M. H., Sci. Teacher, 42(7), 59(1975). 6Thayer, J. W.,Sci. Teacher, 42(7), 60(1975). ColoredoState University Ft. Collins, CO 80523
Peter G. Markow
Volume 57, Number 4. April 1980 1 307
