Inge and Magne creates a nice redox reaction to deposit tin.
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Dendrites are branched outgrowths of nerve cells, which carry the nerve signal on to other nerve cells. In a petri dish we can make tin deposits that are similar to such dendrites.
You need:
- Tin chloride (SnCl2)
- Sodium hydrogen sulfate (NaHSO4)
- Two crocodile clips and wires
- A 4.5 v battery
- A petri dish
NB! Experiments must always follow the safety rules that apply to laboratory experiments. Remember safety goggles.
Recipe:
- Mix 10 grams of tin chloride in 30 ml of water, or as we did; made tin chloride by adding a few pieces of tin in hydrochloric acid
- Pour the solution into a petri dish
- Add a few drops of sodium hydrogen sulfate
- Drizzle a few drops of soap on top to destroy the surface tension
- Attach the crocodile clips to each side of the petri dish so that they protrude into the solution
- Connect the battery
- In a short time you see that metallic tin begins to precipitate, forming branches in the solution, which actually resemble dendrites
