Kipp's apparatus

With a Kipp's apparatus different gases can be produced for use in the laboratory. The gases are generated directly from the chemical reaction of a solid with a liquid in the required quantity.

The device was developed by the Delft pharmacist Petrus Jacobus Kipp (1808-1864) invented around 1860 and took place in laboratories and chemical demonstrations in schools until well into the second half of the 20th century use. Since then, it is hardly used any more, as there are to buy all common gases in small gas bottles. These gases are pure and particularly in contrast to the gases generated in the Kipp apparatus drier.

Design and operation

The Kippsche apparatus consists of three overlapping glass balloons. The upper balloon has a top opening that is often sealed with a fermentation tube and down a riser that extends to the bottom of the lowermost glass balloons up close. The upper balloon is removed and must be placed in a gastight manner, which has a tube with a side stopcock for taking out the gas, and is merged with the lower cuff to the mean balloon.

The mean balloon is separated from the bottom through a sieve or similar so that no solid material falling into the lower balloon, gas and liquid can pass though. Here the relevant solid material is filled into pieces or chips and then used the top balloon.

Then the upper balloon is placed and filled with closed valve with the appropriate reaction solution. As the mean balloon forms a closed system, at first flows only little liquid in the lower balloon, and is prevented by the air pressure to rise up to the middle balloon.

The gas development can start now by opening the tap: The reaction solution is now rising in the middle balloon high and in contact with the solid used the chemical reaction begins.

If the stopcock is closed, it first runs even further. However, the resulting gas can no longer escape and therefore leads to an increase in pressure in the apparatus. Characterized the liquid is forced back through the lower cuff and the riser pipe in the above- lying reservoir back. The reaction stops as soon as the liquid does not reach the solid. If the tap is turned on again, the pressure drops, the liquid rises again and covers the solid. The reaction starts again, and the gas can be removed.

A prerequisite for the use of the Kipp apparatus that used solid substance not use liquid is soluble.

Examples of gases can be generated and their raw materials

• Hydrogen ( zinc shavings and hydrochloric acid)
• Carbon dioxide ( marble chips and hydrochloric acid)
• Hydrogen sulfide (iron (II ) sulfide, and hydrochloric acid )
• Sulfur dioxide ( sodium bisulfite and sulfuric acid)
• Ethyne ( calcium carbide and water)
• Chlorine ( hydrochloric acid and potassium permanganate or manganese dioxide )
• Hydrogen chloride ( ammonium chloride and sulfuric acid)