Calcium Turnings Experiment

Watch what happens when calcium reacts with water in this eye-catching chemistry experiment! In this video, I show two flasks — one with just water and calcium, and another with phenolphthalein indicator added. You’ll see the color change to pink as the reaction produces a basic solution (calcium hydroxide) and releases hydrogen gas bubbles.

This is a classic demonstration of metal reactivity and alkaline earth chemistry — perfect for students, teachers, and science lovers who want to understand how group 2 metals behave in water.

Chemical Reaction:
Ca(s) + 2H₂O(l) → Ca(OH)₂(aq) + H₂(g)

What You’ll Learn:
How calcium reacts with water
The role of phenolphthalein as a pH indicator
Why the solution turns pink (basic calcium hydroxide forms)
How hydrogen gas is released during the reaction
The reactivity trend of group 2 metals in the periodic table