Background Research 背景介紹
The original version of this experiment is called the Pharaoh's Serpent, involving the thermal decomposition of mercuric thiocyanate Hg(SCN)2, a poisonous substance. It is obvious that this experiment is not allowed to occur in normal situations, for it is likely to lead to casualties if not conducted accurately. Therefore, an alternative option is the black snake experiment: in ideal conditions, it has exactly the same effect as the Pharaoh’s Serpent, but all reactants and products are non-toxic.
這個實驗的原始版本被稱為「法老之蛇」，運用了硫氰化汞（一種劇毒物質）的熱分解。很明顯，一般情況下不能進行此實驗，若操作不當很可能造成傷亡事故。因此，「黑蛇實驗」是一個替代選擇：在理想條件下，它與法老之蛇有相同的效果，但所有反應物和產物都是無毒的。
Materials and Apparatus 材料及儀器
Any amount of sodium hydrogen carbonate (baking soda)
任意用量的碳酸氫鈉（小蘇打）
Any amount of sugar
任意用量的蔗糖
Any volume of ethanol
任意體積的酒精
A large amount of sand
大量沙土
An open, inflammable container with a large base area, which can resist heat
一個敞口的、底面積大的、不易燃的、可耐熱的容器
A lighter
一個打火機
Precaution 注意事項
Put on gloves, goggles, and lab coats before entering the lab.
進入實驗室之前，戴好手套和護目鏡，穿好實驗服。
Do not take off gloves, goggles, or lab coats during the experiment.
在實驗過程中不要摘下手套或護目鏡，不要脫下實驗服。
All materials used should be free of impurities and all apparatuses clean.
所用材料應當無雜質，儀器應當乾淨。
Do not casually change the amount of material used.
不要隨意改變材料用量。
When measuring solids, place a filter paper on the electronic balance and set zero, in order to prevent polluting the balance and to gain the accurate mass.
稱量固體時，將一張濾紙放在電子天平上並置零，以防止天平被腐蝕同時獲得精確質量（的物質）。
The sand needs to cover the base of the container thickly to avoid burning the container.
需將沙土厚實地覆蓋在容器底部，以防止容器被燒壞。
Be careful with the lighter. Do not touch the fire or the burning material. Ensure there is no ethanol on hands when lighting the material.
小心使用打火機，不要觸碰火焰或者燃燒的材料。點燃材料時，確保手上沒有酒精。
Procedure 步驟
Cover the base of the container thickly and tightly with a large amount of sand.
用大量沙土緊密而厚實地覆蓋容器底部。
Mix any amount of sugar and baking soda evenly.
將任意用量的蔗糖和小蘇打均勻混合。
Dig a hole in the middle of the sand.
在沙土中間挖一個洞。
Place the mixture in the hole (it should not touch the base of the container).
將混合物放入那個洞（不要碰到容器底部）。
Pour some ethanol in the mixture.
在混合物上倒一些酒精。
Light the mixture with the lighter.
用打火機點燃混合物。
Observation 實驗現象
When the mixture was lit, an orange flame was observed. A black substance slowly 「grew」.
當混合物被點燃時，可以看見橙紅色火焰，黑色的物質慢慢「長出」。
Principle 實驗原理
The 「black snake」 is the result of three heat-related chemical reactions. Firstly, sugar burns with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide gas and water vapour (C12H22O11 + 6O2 à 12CO2 + 11H2O). Then, some sugar which cannot get access to oxygen and sodium hydrogen carbonate undergo thermal decomposition (sugar: C12H22O11 à 12C + 11H2O; baking soda: 2NaHCO3 à Na2CO3 + CO2 + H2O). The sodium carbonate and the carbon produced become the black snake (carbon is black). Carbon dioxide produced supports the 「snake」.
「黑蛇」是由三種與熱相關的化學反應生成的。首先，蔗糖在氧氣中燃燒，生成二氧化碳和水蒸氣。然後，一些無法接觸到氧氣的蔗糖和（所有的）碳酸氫鈉進行了熱分解，生成的碳酸鈉和碳形成了黑蛇（碳是黑的）。生成的二氧化碳支撐起黑蛇。
Limitations and Improvements 缺陷及改進
We tried several times using two different kinds of sands, different amounts of material, and different ways to arrange the materials, but we did not obtain the ideal result (the black substance was supposed to 「grow」 like a snake).
我們試了好幾次，用了兩種不同的沙子（學校沙坑裡的以及太空沙）、不同用量的材料以及擺放材料的不同方法，但是沒有得出最佳效果（黑色的物質應該像蛇一樣「長出來」）
Comments from Club Members 來自社團成員的評論
The experiment failed. Carbon was formed through thermaldecomposition and forms bar-like substance (it smells nice【Grin】); however, the black substance was not gathered, but appeared inseveral directions.
實驗失敗。通過熱分解產生碳，形成長條狀物（整個過程中就挺香）；但實驗過程中黑色物質無法聚在一起，而是從多個方向同時出現。
——from Tiger
實驗視頻
（拍攝者為學生，畫面模糊請見諒）
References 參考
「法老之蛇_百度百科.」百度百科, https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E6%B3%95%E8%80%81%E4%B9%8B%E8%9B%87.Accessed 18 Nov. 2020.
註：本報告僅限於自我查看，由學生撰寫，所有中英文轉換皆為意譯（而非直譯）；因此內容不一定精確，請在查看時慎重決定。
作者：Crazy Experiment Club – Amy Zhang