This is not directly IB related but it is certainly Chemistry related.
I was carrying out the reaction between iron filings and hydrochloric acid yesterday. An experiment I am sure many others out there have carried out. The context is the reactivity series and it also involved reacting magnesium, aluminium, copper and zinc with hydrochloric acid. I have carried out these reactions many times in many different schools and continents and always get the same puzzling result.
Aluminium oxynitride (AION) – marketed under the name ALON.
The material is 85% as strong as sapphire, is a ceramic and has similar structural and optical properties to sapphire.
What have Iron Oxide, Aluminium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide and Sodium Oxide all got in common?
Well, they were the substances found in the highest concentrations in the recent toxic sludge spill in Hungary.
We have carpet moths! Our carpets are apparently good quality and have natural fibres and this has attracted the moths 
It’s not a huge problem but we have had to get the pest control guys around to fumigate the house. My wife was concerned about the chemicals that were being used but after a long chat with the guys involved we were happy with what they were telling us. Essentially ….
Gemstones are all broadly fromed in the same way – a liquid containing dissolved chemicals cools and crystals grow!
However, the devil is in the detail…..
Most of the reactions we carry out in the lab involve a liquid reacting with another liquid, a liquid reacting with a solid or a solid reacting with a gas. There are no solid – solid reactions. Why? (You can post your reasons below) – if you cannot think of any please contact me!
The following clip shows that solid – solid reactions do occur and they can be quite vigorous!
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