Short videos of exciting demonstrations of the chemistry of everyday materials, taken from a lecture by Peter Wothers at the University of Cambridge.

Free Range Chemistry: 32 - Saltpetre (Potassium Nitrate)

Potassium nitrate can be found growing in stables!

Free Range Chemistry: 33 - Saltpetre and Paper

Look what happens when hot potassium nitrate is dropped on a newspaper!

Free Range Chemistry: 34 - Gunpowder

Heating up gunpowder!

Free Range Chemistry: 35 - Yellow Powder

Different ways of making very loud bangs!

Free Range Chemistry: 36 - Explosives

How can we make explosive nitro-compounds using natural chemicals?

Free Range Chemistry: 37 - Nitroglycerin Bang

Nitroglycerin makes a pretty loud bang when you touch it!

Free Range Chemistry: 38 - Nitrocellulose Rocket

Dramatic rocket launch using nitrocellulose as a fuel.