Making ammonia from its elements (Haber-Bosch) Marbs lab 2025-03-20 | #hydrogen #nitrogen #ammonia #haberboschIn this video, I show the synthesis of ammonia from its elements hydrogen and nitrogen, also known as the Haber-Bosch process. The ammonia is then detected using Berthelot's reagent. As a catalyst, I use a mixture of fine iron powder and aluminum oxide. The yield in this experiment is very low. Industrial Haber-Bosch plants work under very high pressure and with better catalysts. Please like and share the video, subscribe, and consider to become a patreon.
DIY water chiller for the chemistry lab Marbs lab 2025-08-01 | #waterchiller #portablefridge #chemistrylab Laboratory in a small space, no water connections? No problem! In the video, I show you how to build a water chiller from a portable freezer, which even allows you to precisely regulate the volume flow of the cooling water. The water chiller runs on 12V DC, so it is completely safe regarding splashing water. It is designed for smaller distillation tasks, and since it cools using a compressor, it is much more effective than cooling with Peltier elements.
Building a programmable diaphragm pump for the lab Marbs lab 2025-07-08 | #diaphragmpump #laboratory #arduinonano In this video, I show you how to build a programmable diaphragm pump for the laboratory. You can also use the pump for an aquarium. Microcontroller: Arduino NanoDriver: Power MOSFET for the heating bed of a 3D printerDiaphragm pump: 12V DC, 10 L/min max.Interface: Rotary encoder with push-button functionDisplay: LCD 16 x 2, I2CSupply voltage: 12V DCDimensions: 200 x 145 x 54mmYou can find the wiring diagram and the source code here: github.com/Marbslab/lab-pump
Making nitric acid by the Ostwald process Marbs lab 2025-06-29 | #nitricacid #ostwald #catalystIn this video, I show you the Ostwald process in an experiment. In the Ostwald process, ammonia is oxidized using a suitable catalyst to produce nitric acid. I use a catalyst that you can buy on Amazon or eBay, and which is not expensive. I also show how to build a low-cost, modular lab frame yourself to carry out chemical experiments. Also, check out my Haber-Bosch video: youtube.com/watch?v=31jpvFuUQBI
Powering a Geissler tube by hand Marbs lab 2025-06-23 | #wimshurst #geissler #helium In this video, I show you how to operate a Geissler tube with a Wimshurst machine. The Wimshurst machine is from AliExpress, and the Geissler tube is from eBay. Geissler tubes are filled with various gases at low pressure, with metal electrodes at each end. A high voltage of several thousand volts is applied between the electrodes. The high voltage ionizes the gas, causing it to give off light by fluorescence in a glow discharge. The color of the light depends on the gas used. To give it a vintage look, I made a new base from lime wood and tube holders from turned wood. I also made the brass wire connections myself and paid attention to other historical details. My Geissler tube is filled with helium. I checked this with a diffraction grating by looking at the spectral lines.
DIY Franck-Hertz experiment Marbs lab 2025-06-09 | #quantumphysics #FranckHertzExperiment #argon A DIY version of the Franck-Hertz experiment. Instead of a costly mercury tube, I use a cheap thyratron tube filled with argon. A special power supply was built for the experiment that provides an adjustable accelerating, retarding and filament voltage. The filament current can also be preset. Analog voltmeters and ammeters are integrated into the power supply. You only need a multimeter set in the µA range to measure the collector or anode current. As with the Franck-Hertz experiment, the glowing regions can also be seen, although the design of the tube prevents a direct view.
The dawn of electrochemistry Marbs lab 2025-06-05 | #galvani #frog leg #electrochemicalcells Luigi Galvani's discovery, often called “animal electricity”, refers to his observation that a frog's muscles twitched when they came into contact with two different metals. Galvani believed these muscle twitches were caused by an electrical fluid in the body. Although he did not fully understand the exact nature of this "animal electricity", his discovery laid the foundation for the understanding of bioelectricity. It inspired Alessandro Volta to invent the first battery.
Bringing a Crookes tube to life Marbs lab 2025-05-19 | #crookestube #highvoltage #fluorescent I bought a Crookes tube from AliExpress, which I gave a base plate and foot made of fine wood and brass feet. It took a few attempts before I got it to work—the secret is aluminum foil.Crookes tube: de.aliexpress.com/item/32851034247.htmlHigh voltage generator: highvoltageshop.com/10kV-HV-Generator-Modul-12VDC-1000-bis-10000VDC-Positive-High-Voltage-Generator-einstellbarYou can support me on Patreon: patreon.com/user?u=95570128
Experimental determination of Plancks constant using LEDs Marbs lab 2025-05-10 | #Planck'sConstant #LED # LinearRegressionIn this video, I show you how to experimentally determine the Planck constant using LEDs. I have designed a small PCB to make the measurement as convenient as possible. You can also connect an ammeter and, for example, experimentally determine the voltage-current characteristics of the LEDs. The data was analyzed in Excel. Gerber files can be found here: github.com/Marbslab/Planck-costant
Building a replica of Leeuwenhoeks single-lens microscope Marbs lab 2025-05-05 | #Leeuwenhoek #microscope #machiningVan Leeuwenhoek's one-lens microscope design was cleverer than you might think. Watch the video to find out. Apart from a column drill, I only used basic tools like a hacksaw, files, sandpaper, hammer, and tapping sets. In addition, some parts were soft or silver soldered. The replica is made almost entirely of brass. The original was made of silver. Only the lens is modern. It is made of anti-reflective glass and has a focal length of 2 mm, which results in a magnification of around 125x. Van Leeuwenhoek's single-lens microscopes had a magnification of up to 250x. Unfortunately, my glass processing skills are still too rudimentary.
Experimental estimation of absolute zero Marbs lab 2025-04-15 | #absolutezero #timeofflight #thermodynamics Experimental determination of absolute zero using a thermocouple, a ToF sensor, and a gas syringe. Data transmission via microcontroller and a cross-platform serial monitor/plotter (github.com/hacknus/serial-monitor-rust/releases). Evaluation in Excel using linear regression.
Crystalloluminescence of table salt Marbs lab 2025-04-05 | #crystalloluminescence #tablesalt #nacl #luminescence NaCl (table salt) is one of the few known substances in which crystalloluminescence occurs during crystallization. The crystalloluminescence can be explained by the luminescence of excited dopant cations in the crystal lattice of NaCl during the phase transformation from dissolved to solid, and not by triboluminescence of the crystals formed. It is assumed that the phase transformation also involves an energy conversion from potential to electronic energy, which leads to excitation of the contaminating ions; however, this is not chemiluminescence
The experiment that gave rise to quantum mechanics (Photoelectric effect) Marbs lab 2025-04-02 | #photoelectriceffect #photon #quantummechanics In this video, I show how to build an apparatus according to Hertz/Hallwachs to demonstrate the photoelectric effect and the dependence of electron emission on the frequency of light by observing the deflection of a needle electroscope.
Building a small, fully automatic Birkeland-Eyde experimental reactor Marbs lab 2025-03-14 | #Birkeland-Eyde #nitricacid In this video, I show you how to build a fully automatic Birkeland-Eyde reactor that you can use for further experiments or to produce nitric acid. At the moment, I am working on the theoretical basics of the Birkeland-Eyde process, which are very complex. However, it is necessary to be able to optimize. If you are interested, I will make a follow-up video.
Building an ammonia analyzer for blood Marbs lab 2025-02-17 | #photometer #Berthelot's reagent #ammonia Sponsor of this video: pcbway.com PCBs, PCB assembly, 3D printing, and CNC machining - super fast, high quality, and very affordable. Everything you need for your next project.In this video, I show how and why I built an ammonia analyzer for blood. The following paper helped me a lot: researchgate.net/publication/265139075
Home-made spectrometer (new approach) Marbs lab 2024-12-21 | Sponsor of this video: pcbway.comPCBs, PCB assembly, 3-D printing, CNC machining, and injection molding - super fast, high quality, and very affordable. Everything you need for your next project. #Spectrometer #Arduino #3dprinted In this video, I show the building and operation of an experimental 3-D-printed spectrometer. It is based on discrete LEDs with specific wavelengths placed on a ring rotated by a stepper motor. The measured values are then used as supporting points for three interpolations (Lagrange, linear, and cubic spline). Another possibility of the spectrometer is to combine the spectral emission of the LEDs with the spectral sensitivity of the sensor's photodiodes (the AS7341 has 9 photodiodes that can be addressed individually).As an LED's wavelength only changes with temperature, a Peltier element could cool or heat the LEDs to get a wider spectrum.I also use a flow-through cell for continuous measurements, which are used, for example, in a flow injection analysis device.
Towards an artificial chemical brain Marbs lab 2024-12-04 | Sponsor: nextpcb.com#clockreaction #luminol #roboticsIn this video, I explore the possibilities of an artificial chemical brain. I show chemical reactions that could serve as building blocks, including an absolutely fascinating clock reaction based on luminol. Then I show a bionic robot hand I built and an interface connecting the chemical and robotics worlds. Finally, the robotic hand is controlled by various chemical reactions.Image source: Lab-on-a-chip. (2024, October 29). In Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lab-on-a-chipDetailed information about the luminol clock reaction: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/kin.21409Interesting article on this topic: newscientist.com/article/mg23931950-100-why-creating-a-chemical-brain-will-be-how-we-understand-consciousness
Building a micro overhead stirrer for test tubes Marbs lab 2024-11-22 | #overheadstirrer #3dprinting #testtube #microscale An easy-to-build micro overhead stirrer, especially for micro-scale chemistry. The stirrer will appear again in one of my next videos, as it is necessary to keep oscillating chemical reactions going
Building an antimony pH meter from scratch Marbs lab 2024-11-14 | #phmeter #diy #antimony In this video, I show you how to build a simple and inexpensive antimony pH meter. It is especially interesting for me because, unlike the standard glass electrode, it can be miniaturized for a lab-on-a-chip. However, the response is slower and less sensitive to low pH values. It is also susceptible to chemical corrosion. For cost reasons, I chose a copper-copper(II) sulfate electrode instead of the usual silver chloride electrode. As the cell has a low internal resistance, no BNC plug, socket, or shielded cable is required.Further links:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimony_electrodeen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper%E2%80%93copper(II)_sulfate_electrodeen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_electrode_potential_(data_page)ajol.info/index.php/ajce/article/view/191420
Building a lab-on-a-chip Marbs lab 2024-11-03 | #LoC #LabOnAChip #Microfluidics #SyringePumpIn this video, I show you how to build a simple lab-on-a-chip and a very inexpensive, freely programmable (Arduino) syringe pump. This gives you a complete microfluidic system to carry out many experiments. For example, I have chosen a biochemical reaction based on the enzyme glucose oxidase, which can be used to detect glucose.
Building a gas chromatograph Marbs lab 2024-10-12 | #gaschromatograph #homemade #arduino Gas chromatography (GC) is a separation technique using gas flow through a column that separates compounds based on both volatility and interaction with the liquid stationary phase. Professional GCs are very expensive and not affordable for schools or amateur researchers. In the video, I will show you how to build a simple CG and a column that can be used to analyze LPG or other low molecular-weight alkanes.Further sources of information:https://www.aatis.de/content/bausatz/AS656_Gaschromatographresearchgate.net/publication/299630295_Ein_Gas-Chromatograph_im_Selbstbau researchgate.net/publication/315664290_Methanol-_und_Ethanolbestimmungen_per_Gaschromatographie_-_Erganzungsbausatz_AS657
A novel bistable photochromic dye memristor Marbs lab 2024-10-09 | #photochromic #memristor #CMTEA first approach for a memristor based on a bistable photochromic dye. The photochromic substance I'm using has the catchy name cis-1,2-dicyano-1,2-bis(2,4,5-trimethyl-3-thienyl)ethene (or 1,2-bis(2,4,5-trimethyl-3-thienyl)-cis-1,2-dicyanoethene). Fortunately, there is an abbreviation: CMTE. The substance is costly (300 euros for 1 g), toxic, and difficult for private researchers to obtain. Nevertheless, I was determined to realize this idea and I finally succeeded.A few additional words about the function of the photochromic memristor: The 405 nm laser “burns” a cone of closed-form CMTE into the 3-dimensional array of CMTE molecules. As a result, the absorbance of the array increases over time (see Beer-Lambert law). The interesting region is in the first 1000 ms, where Ev changes considerably, after which saturation occurs and the graph approaches an asymptote.
Repeating an experiment they did on Mars to search for life Marbs lab 2024-09-13 | #lifeonmars #Astrobiology #Viking Edit: I accidentally swapped the labels for the x and y axes on the graphIn this video I repeat the famous "labeled release (LR) experiment" conducted on Mars: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viking_lander_biological_experimentsInstead of the radioactive C-14 isotope with which the nutrients were tagged and a Geiger counter, I am using a sensitive and true carbon dioxide sensor.The graph in the video shows the logistic function: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logistic_functionVerhulst derived his logistic equation to describe the self-limiting growth of a biological population. The equation was rediscovered in 1911 by A. G. McKendrick for the growth of bacteria in broth and experimentally tested using a technique for nonlinear parameter estimation. In his 1977 Christmas Lecture at the Royal Institution, Carl Sagan also demonstrated the experiment: youtube.com/watch?v=rortB0okcAg&t=3027sThe experiment, as I conducted it, is very suitable as a science project for students.
Building a multi-purpose electrochemistry device Marbs lab 2024-09-09 | #electrochemistry #magneticstirrer #inventionI would like to get more involved with electrochemistry in the future, but these experiments are almost always associated with fiddling, wobbly electrodes, short circuits, loose contacts, and tangled cables, I came up with and built this device, which can be used universally in electrochemistry and simplifies the experimental setups.
Building a light travelling clock Marbs lab 2024-09-07 | #clock #planets #solarsystem #carlsagan #4017 This clock shows how long it takes light to travel from the Earth to other planets and the sun. I got the idea from the first of six Christmas lectures Carl Sagan gave at the Royal Institution in 1977. A clock like this is shown there in large format. You can find the link to the video here: youtube.com/watch?v=aAxvxIOwnWMIf you haven't seen the lectures yet, I recommend watching them all. The model of the Titan III-Centaur main rocket that sent the interstellar probes, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 into space, is slightly shorter than scaled in the video. The reason is that otherwise, the clock wouldn't fit on my bookshelf.
Building a galvanically isolated memristor emulator Marbs lab 2024-08-28 | #memristor #arduino # solidstaterelayArduino-compatible memristor emulator on a single PCB. The special feature is that the programmable memristor is galvanically isolated and bidirectional thanks to solid-state relays. The memristor has two connections and is not wired internally as a voltage divider, as is the case with digital potentiometers. The board is designed as an experimental platform. Analog inputs and I2C are broken out so that the memristor can also be controlled by other sensors or devices.
The Abyss, an 11kg epoxy diorama Marbs lab 2024-07-28 | #theabyss #diorama #epoxyresin I'm a big fan of “The Abyss”, an American science fiction film from 1989 directed by James Cameron. Since most of the movie takes place underwater and I had an underwater diorama in mind for quite some time, the idea was born to create a diorama as a tribute to the movie. A total of 11kg of epoxy resin was poured. 22 neopixel LEDs provide the lighting for the butterfly-like alien creature, controlled by an Arduino pro micro so that all imaginable light patterns can be programmed. An HW-MS03 radar breakout serves as a motion detector. The diorama is far from perfect, but I've learned a lot along the way, and that's the most important thing, right?Thanks again to PCBWay for supporting the project. Link for more info:pcbway.com
Building a Geiger counter and testing different free available radioactive materials Marbs lab 2024-07-18 | #DIY #geigercounter #radioactiveDIY α, β, and γ sensitive Geiger counter I designed and built. The highest activity was shown by an old gas mantle containing thorium dioxide, which at that time was a commonly major component of the incandescent mantle, as it is also called. All the radioactive materials can be bought with no restrictions on eBay.I also show how to convert cpm to µSvh.
Some additional footage of Nikola Teslas famous RC boat Marbs lab 2024-07-15 | #nikolatesla #rcboat #relaxingSome additional recordings of Nikola Tesla's famous RC boat, accompanied by beautiful music. Watch and relax. Please like, share, and subscribe.
Crafting a birthday gift for Dr Andrew Szydlo Marbs lab 2024-06-28 | #AndrewSzydlo #chemistry #birthdaygift In the unlikely event that you don't know Dr. Andrew Szydlo, he is a British chemist and chemistry teacher who is best known for his lectures and talks on chemistry. I highly recommend watching his lectures on the RI channel: youtube.com/results?search_query=andrew+szydlo+chemistry
Building a Sputnik automaton Marbs lab 2024-06-26 | #sputnik #space #automaton The Sputnik automaton consists of an illuminated, handmade globe around which a model of the Sputnik1 satellite orbits. Like the original, the beeper circuit consists of an astable multivibrator, a Wien bridge oscillator, and an audio amplifier. For this purpose, 6 Russian germanium pnp transistors of type MP40 were used. The diode is made of the semiconductor material germanium as well and also comes from old Russian stocks. The wooden housing is designed to match the typical furniture of the time.
Building a desktop record and play robot arm Marbs lab 2024-05-09 | #robotarm #arduino #MB85RC256VSmall Arduino desktop 3DOF record and play robot arm. The end actuator is a vacuum suction cup. A small vacuum pump and a solenoid valve are also included. The customized PCB features a 32 KByte non-volatile I2C FRAM chip (MB85RC256V) on which the robot movements can be stored.Sorry, but my camera died before I could film the "infinity loop" ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Dissolving a Nobel Prize gold medal in aqua regia Marbs lab 2024-04-27 | #aquaregia #gold #nobelprize Aqua regia is a fuming mixture of 37% hydrochloric acid and 66% nitric acid, optimally in a molar ratio of 1:3. It can dissolve precious metals such as gold and platinum, but not all metals.
Building a replica of Teslas radio-controlled boat Marbs lab 2024-04-20 | #nikolatesla #rcboat #drone #nRF24L01 #teslarcbootNikola Tesla's radio-controlled boat was the first drone ever. I reconstructed the boat using the drawings in US Patent No. 613,809. I did not replicate the original remote control, but I did design and build my own transmitter and receiver. It is based on the Arduino Nano microcontroller and the 2.4 GHz nRF24L01 transceiver module. The boat was built 1:2 scale. It is 60 cm long and weighs about 8.5 kg to get to the waterline shown in the patent drawings. Over 400 hours of work went into the project.
Building a laser gun with automatic focal point adjustment - Part 2 Marbs lab 2024-03-16 | #lasergun #laserdiode Part 2 - Laser optics, rotating lensPart 1: youtube.com/watch?v=vmBlwg31CD8
Terminator T-800 Brain Chip Badge Marbs lab 2024-03-14 | #terminator #brainchip #555timer #T-800A PCB badge featuring the iconic brain chip from Terminator 2: Judgment Day. This is a tribute to the Terminator's 40th anniversary! (1984-2024). Terminator 1 was the first movie I ever saw in a movie theater when it was released in Germany in 1985. I lived in a small town at the time, and the theater still had the flair of the 1950s. It was this movie that got me interested in robotics.
Building an underwater humanoid robot - Part 1: Pressure hull Marbs lab 2024-03-12 | #rov #rouv #humanoidrobotI'm building an underwater humanoid robot that I want to use to explore the surrounding lakes. The robot is supposed to map the water quality. Maybe I'll even find some treasure.
Building a laser gun with automatic focal point adjustment - Part 1 Marbs lab 2024-02-26 | #lasergun #laserdiode Part 1 - Making a 5 W laser using the laser diode PLPT9450LB_E from Osram and some parts from Aliexpress.Part 2: youtube.com/watch?v=6w8p3fl4Q1k
DIY Autosampler demo Marbs lab 2024-02-20 | #autosampler #robotarm #cncshieldv3HQ NextPCB: nextpcb.comPCB prototype: nextpcb.com/pcb-quoteYou can find more information about my autosampler here: hackaday.io/project/194623-building-a-flow-injection-analyzer
Laser gun study Marbs lab 2024-02-17 | #lasergun #laser #laserdiode The laser has a continuous output of 4 W and up to 20 W in pulsed mode. The trigger is freely programmable via an onboard microcontroller (Arduino Pro Micro clone). The laser draws 1.6 A in continuous mode and is powered by an 11.1 V/1600 mAh V LiPo. Among other things, a laser gun could also be used to destroy biohazard material in vitro. The focal length of the supplied lens is 25 mm. I am planning a second version with an automatic focal length adjustment depending on the distance to the target using a Time-of-Flight (ToF) laser distance sensor. Before experimenting with lasers, be sure to read the relevant safety instructions: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_safety
Unpacking the Silver Play Button and testing for nickel Marbs lab 2024-02-09 | #SilverPlayButton #unboxing #asmr #nickel A big thank you goes out to all my subscribers!
Building a retractable laser light saber Marbs lab 2024-02-02 | #lightsaber #retractableLightsaber #retractable #laserIt works, but there is some room for improvement:- Faster linear motor- Degassing of the glycerine to remove trapped air- Vent valveAnother option would be not to use a plunger at all, but an easily compressible gas such as CO₂. However, you would then have to dissolve CO₂ in glycerine to saturation beforehand.By the way, the laser beam in the air is not visible to the human eye.
Building a photochromic molecular switch Marbs lab 2024-01-20 | #molecularswitch #photochromic #laserThe photochromic molecular switch consists of a 650 nm and a 405 nm laser, two corresponding drivers, a voltage regulator, a temperature sensor, and a beam splitter. The switch is controlled by an Arduino Pro Micro. The 3D-printed holders for the lasers, the beam splitter, and the quartz cuvette are mounted directly on the customized PCB.Edit: Photochromism in spiropyran works by breaking the C-O bond, converting the spiropyran into its color-emitting merocyanine form.
Building a high power Spiderman web shooter - Part 1 #Spiderman #Webshooter Marbs lab 2024-01-18 | The first part is about building a high-pressure spraying system. In the second part, the valve will be controlled via a microcontroller, some pieces will be 3D-printed and some chemistry will be used to produce an artificial spider silk.
Making azobenzene, a photoswitchable chemical compound #Azobenzene Marbs lab 2024-01-16 | https://www.laboratoriumdiscounter.nl/en/Promotion Code: MARBSLAB2024 (10% off all products).Synthesis of azobenzene by reduction of nitrobenzene by magnesium.I am tired. Please consider buying me a coffee via SuperThanks :)
Two experiments with glucose oxidase #glucoseoxidase Marbs lab 2024-01-02 | The two experiments show how to produce a glucose reagent based on glucose oxidase and how modern blood glucose meters work in principle.https://www.laboratoriumdiscounter.nl/de/ promotion code: MARBSLAB2024 (10% discount on all products!)
Iodoform - Synthesis and antiseptic properties Marbs lab 2023-12-27 | #Iodoform #synthesis #antiseptic #antibacterial #agar Making iodoform and testing its antiseptic properties. If you like my videos please subscribe, like, and comment. This will support my channel. Thank you.
TAST-E, the robot with a sense of taste and smell - Part 2 Marbs lab 2023-12-20 | TAST-E is an animatronic robot head with an artificial tongue and nose. Check out the project page for more information: hackaday.io/project/193474-tast-e-the-robot-with-a-sense-of-taste-and-smellPart one: youtube.com/watch?v=issO5CZQO10
California snowball Marbs lab 2023-12-17 | Making a gel similar to Sterno with a snow-like texture by using over-saturated calcium acetate and ethanol.
Making an old medicine against Syphilis (mercury(II) chloride) Marbs lab 2023-12-13 | #Mercury #syphilis #poison Mercury(II) chloride and other mercury compounds were a popular treatment for syphilis for centuries until the first use of penicillin against syphilis in 1943.
