Before the discovery in the 1920s of quantum mechanics—laws that explain the way the world works on the very small scale of atoms and electrons—the fact that bleach and peroxide glow when mixed would have seemed like just another chemical reaction that gives off light, like fire or fireflies. But it’s actually a glimpse into the impossible.
So, how about a luciferase experiment using crushed fireflies?
Dept.:Gray Matter
Element:Silicon
Project: Purifying it
Time: 4 hours
Cost: $40
Dabbler | | | | | Master
You should also be able to use aluminum powder for the goldschmidt (thermit) reaction that obtains the raw Si. Aluminum will also disappear during the HCl purification.
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