CHEMICAL SUNSET
SVS Sudarshan Mechanical-B 16p61a0366
The Chemical sunset demonstrates the
Tyndall effect in a fun and engaging
way.Colloidal sulfur is produced by the
reaction between sodium thiosulfate
and hydrochloric acid.
Na2S2O3(aq) + 2HCl(aq) S(s) +
SO2(g) + 2NaCl(aq) + H2O
The hydrochloric acid is then added and
briefly stirred in the mixture.As the
colloidal sulfur grows the transmitted
light changes from white to red and
eventually no light is transmitted. All the
light is scattered, as can be seen from
the side of the glass beaker.
The Tyndall effect, also known as Tyndall
scattering, is light scattering by particles
in a colloid or else particles in a very
fine suspension. It is named after the
19th-century physicist John Tyndall.
Tarakarama Teja Mechanical-B 16p61a0363
Under the Tyndall effect, the longer-
wavelength light is more transmitted
while the shorter-wavelength light is
more reflected via scattering.It is
particularly applicable to colloidal
mixtures and fine suspensions. for
example, the Tyndall effect is used in
nephelometers to determine the size
and density of particles in aerosols and
other colloidal matter.
The sulfur precipitates the higher energy
light from the projector will be scattered,
making the solution look blue.Red and
orange light transmitted through the
solution will be projected onto the
screen. The colours observed during a
natural sunset and sunrise are a result
of the same principle. Much more of the
blue light is scattered, but the red and
orange light is transmitted through to
our eye, so that we see the sky look
orange and red.