Old Nassau reaction

The Old Nassau or Halloween Reaction, a scientific demonstration of a clock reaction in which a solution turns orange and then black (the school colors of Princeton University), was discovered by two Princeton undergraduates researching the inhibition of the iodine clock reaction (or Landolt reaction) by Hg²⁺, resulting in the formation of orange HgI₂. "Old Nassau" is the nickname for Princeton, named for its historic administration building, Nassau Hall.

The reactions involved are as follows:

(1) Na₂S₂O₅ + H₂O ==> 2 NaHSO₃

(2) IO₃^- + 3 HSO₃^- ==> I^- + 3 SO₄^2- + 3 H⁺

This reaction reduces iodate ions to iodide ions.

(3) Hg²⁺ + 2 I^- ==> HgI₂

orange mercury iodide solid is precipitated until the mercury is used up.

(4) IO₃^- + 5 I^- + 6 H⁺ ==> 3 I₂ + 3 H₂O)

the excess I^- and IO₃^- undergo the iodide-iodate reaction

(5) I₂ + starch ==> a blue/black complex

and blue/black starch-iodine complex is formed.

References

• Alyea, Hubert N. (1977). "The Old Nassau reaction". Journal of Chemical Education 54: 167. doi:10.1021/ed054p167.2. 
• "Simulation und praktische Durchführung der „Old Nassau” Uhr-Reaktion". http://www.dcb-server.unibe.ch/dcbneu/studies/pharmazie/PCI/OldNassau07.pdf. 
• Lambert, Jack L.; Fina, Gary T. (1984). "Iodine clock reaction mechanisms". Journal of Chemical Education 61: 1037. doi:10.1021/ed061p1037. 
• "Old Nassau - Haloween Reaction". http://www.mun.ca/educ/ed4361/virtual_academy/campus_a/woodlandm/Demo1.html. 
• Huber, Hanspeter (1979). "Simulation of the Old Nassau Reaction". Journal of Chemical Education 56: 320. doi:10.1021/ed056p320. 
• Fortman, John J. (1992). "The old Nassau demonstration: Educational and entertaining variations". Journal of Chemical Education 69: 236. doi:10.1021/ed069p236. 
• Peter Keusch. "Cocktail 'Old Nassau' - Modifizierte Landolt Reaktion". http://www.chemie.uni-regensburg.de/Organische_Chemie/Didaktik/Keusch/D-Old_Nassau-d.htm. 
• Moss, Arthur (1978). "The Landolt, "Old Nassau", and variant reactions". Journal of Chemical Education 55: 244. doi:10.1021/ed055p244.2. 
• Wilkinson, Lawrence E.; David Speckhard; James H. Maynard (2004). "Old Nassau Demonstration with Wilkinson Modification". Journal of Chemical Education 81: 1474. doi:10.1021/ed081p1474. 
• Moss, Arthur (1978). "The Landolt, "Old Nassau", and variant reactions". Journal of Chemical Education 55: 244. doi:10.1021/ed055p244.2. 
• Lambert, Jack L.; Fina, Gary T. (1984). "Iodine clock reaction mechanisms". Journal of Chemical Education 61: 1037. doi:10.1021/ed061p1037. 
• Autuori, Marcos Alberto; Brolo, Alexandre Guimaraes; Mateus, Alfredo Luis M. L. (1989). "The iodine clock reaction: A surprising variant". Journal of Chemical Education 66: 852. doi:10.1021/ed066p852.1. 

See also

• iodine clock reaction