Photochemical Reaction of Hydrogen and Chlorine

Different colors of LED light illuminate a small corked test tube with no reaction. Ultraviolet light causes an explosion that shoots the cork across the room.

Video of our demo in action https://youtu.be/NN82GoBG98s

Another video of our demo in action https://youtu.be/tJhVy1x9X2c

The gas mixture is made by the electrolysis of hydrochloric acid 8M. A water bath allows for filling the tubes under water. The tubes are quartz. There should be a video of how to fill one of these tubes, because many words otherwise.

References

* Richard Schwenz and Lynn Geiger. "Photon-Initiated Hydrogen-Chlorine Reaction." Journal of Chemical Education 76.4 (1999): 470.

* Shakhashiri, Bassam Z. "Chemical Demonstrations: A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry." Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1983. ( http://books.google.com/books?id=0rx6Cjx_l-AC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA121#v=onepage&q&f=false)