Nickel - Periodic Table of Videos

A new video about Nickel, including an attempt to show off the fiery nature of Raney Nickel.
More links and info in full description ↓↓↓

With thanks to the Garfield Weston Foundation

[jonathangreen]

Raney nickel quite reliably sets fire to flammable organic solvent vapors when it dries out...this is a problem when using these organic solvents with Raney nickel in hydrogenations (quite often methanol). Once the reaction is complete you filter off the Raney nickel, which glows orange if allowed to dry (as shown in the experiment in the video). This can ignite methanol vapors if present, and methanol fires are particularly bad because you quite often can't see the blue flame it produces! You can prevent this by not allowing the catalyst to dry out, or keep everything under an inert atmosphere such as nitrogen or argon.

Very nice video as always, thanks!

[patamaran]

im 3600 ft underground in a nickel mine in sudbury ontario right now. love the periodic videos, definitely helps pass the time on standby down here.

[amber]

Can't believe I only just discovered this channel. As soon as I saw the hair I subscribed.

[Fake_Blood]

Can we get an interview with Neil? He often saves the day with his practical insights.

[DasIllu]

2:31 had to pause the video, go to the comment section... i was sure there would be a ton of jokes.
But no, this channel has the most mature audience of all of youtube... and i don't count among that :-P

[louistournas]

11:00 americans call bumpers bumpers as well. Fenders are on the sides, above the tires.

[taeganh]

I always love the few times he mentions Canada in his videos. Makes me feel like our country exists to some extent on the scientific world stage.

[ssdd]

H.I. sent me here, to re-booted videos, and I'm so glad they did!

You're doing a great work, thanks!

[TheChiefCoin]

This is in my top 10 channels on YouTube. Absolutely fantastic channel.

[jmowreader]

Hi professor. Thanks for the great video.

Here's a little bit about chrome plating (but not about bumpers and fenders - the US and Britain use "bumper" to describe the same part of the car. What we call a fender, British people call a wing.)

Chrome plating is a three-step process.

First is a layer of copper plating. This provides a solid surface for the rest of the system to stick to.

Next is a layer of nickel. It's used for two reasons - it's the right color, and it's very easy to polish to a high shine.

After the nickel is polished, a layer of hard chromium protects the nickel from scratches and oxidation.

[patrickhayes]

[Music + experiment sounds]

Always nice to come back to this channel now and again.

[gigglysamentz]

7:12 Neil can laugh ! It's official ! :'D

[piercer]

I live about 1 hr from Sudbury Ontario. .. and you seem to know more about the area then I do! Thanks for the lesson!

[acronus]

Had some experience working in a canola oil plant that used Raney Nickel catalyst for hydrogenation. On more than a few occasions, the spent catalyst bins would spontaneously combust, but it also contained small quantities of vegetable oil, aiding the process.

[kyleklassen]

6:25

I can't imagine how exciting that must have been for Raney when he realized he found a new catalyst!

[wjodf]

Once again the professor is the best. Outtake was great and Neil keeps going

[kukulkanlordofcas]

I used nickel for my chemistry internal assessment back in high school. I also used other transition metals like chromium, manganese, etc. I'll be honest, I took a little of them all home as samples.

[aryamankejriwal]

You know, I've always wondered how catalysts actually work. It would be great if you could do a video on that!
Thanks😊

[maxeyre]

FINALLY I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A NEW NICKEL VIDEO FOR 5 YEARS!!! :D

[Maxdkai]

If I a dime every time neil laughed I would have a nickel.