Answering questions in order:
1. I'm guessing a little container of Zn bits. He adds HCl and then ignites it using one of those long BBQ/Candle lighters. If you look at the video carefuly you can see a hole in one of the watermelons where he inserts the lighter, and I'm betting he generated H2.
2. H2 balloons are made in a 500ml flask with lots of torn up Alfoil and 2-3M NaOH poured over the it. Prestretch a balloon by blowing it up and deflating a few times(do this first), then stretch over the neck of the flask as soon as you've poured the NaOH in. (NB Not too much NaOH and it will bubble up the neck of the flask) Once the balloon is big enough, wrangle it off the neck of the flask, and quickly tie it in a knot, which you have to pull very tight. All this is best done in a lab sink, with washing up gloves on (as well as all the other safety gear
![Thumbsup :thumbup:](./images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
), as it is hot and you are messing with hot sodium hydroxide. Practice is a good idea too.Cut any excess rubber off from the end of the balloon and attach a cotton reel to the balloon. Let it float to the ceiling, or about 1.5m above you if you're outside. Sticky tape a candle to a metre ruler, light it and hold it up to the balloon. then DUCK!
![Shocked 8O](./images/smilies/shock1.gif)
Don't delay too long as the H2 can leak out of the balloon pretty quickly.
3. Place a little pile of KMnO4 on a tin lin (eg a Milo lid) in a fume cupboard or a clear area outside. Add a few drops of glycerol. What happens at first is a great deal of nothing. So then you say "Oh dear, I guess it's not working today etc etc" and all the kids go HA HA. Then suddenly it will start crackling a bit, so you cup one hand to an ear, dramatically. Then the whole lot will go up in PINK flames! Yahoo.
I won't answer the "are we allowed to do that?" question on the grounds that it might incriminate me!
![Whistling :whistling2:](./images/smilies/whistling.gif)
My defence will be we're in the country here (imagine a slow drawl) so we might be a bit behind the times ya know?? Anyway, we only do it as a demo. It's an old bushies trick - how to light a fire in the wet.
Cheers, K
![Cool 8-)](./images/smilies/cool.gif)