Chemistry experiment 29 - Copper + nitric acid fountain

Copper reacts with nitric acid, forming blue Cu2+ ions. Also, a brownish mixture of nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide gas is formed. Nitrogen dioxide reacts with water, forming nitric acid. The latter reaction causes a low pressure in the left flask. Therefore, water from the right flask is sucked into the left flask. Hazards: Nitric acid is corrosive. Formed gases are very toxic.