Originally commission for the
NISE Network for
their museum collection on nanotechnology. This piece demonstrates how
diffusion and local concentrations determine reaction rates. Two
sources of reagents produce diazonium salt and dimethylaniline
which diffuse away from the sources. When two molecules of the reagents find
each other, they react to produce methyl orange in an exothermic reaction.
Using their shadow, participants can keep the reagents separated or push
them together to increase the local concentration. When two highly
concentrations of the reagents come together, POW!, a very violent reaction
results.