Which is the famous snake of the Pharaoh?

History:
This phenomenon was the perfect entertainment during the dinners organized by aristocrats at the beginning of the 19th century in Europe.

It was enough to bring a small torch (or any other source of ignition) to a white powder that was placed on the table.

Instantly, and as if by magic, it was beginning to form what looked like a snake that was growing.

It had a spongy and fragile texture, white on the outside and black on the inside.

The guests ended up absolutely fascinated, and the host, was very well before them.

It was the consequence of a chemical reaction produced by an inorganic compound called mercury thiocyanate, which besides containing that element of the Periodic Table, has carbon.

Its popularity diminished, however, when the harmful effects of mercury began to be evident.

"The compound was wrapped in paper and many people thought it was sweet, they ate it and became very sick," Tom Miller, a chemist at the University College of London (UCL), told the BBC.

He adds: "A secondary consequence of the process is the release of mercury vapor and other toxic gases."

then it happened to be a demonstration in the classrooms and it was sold in stores until they realized its toxicity. When the mercury thiocyanate is heated, it expands into a solid brown mass. In the process, sulfur dioxide and mercury sulfide are produced. You can get a similar nontoxic reaction by heating a mixture of sugar and baking soda.
ingredients:

• Sodium bicarbonate
• Powdered sugar
• Lighter
• Beach sand
• 1 large metal container
• Alcohol
• 1 teaspoon
• 1 small container to mix

How to do it?

Step 1
Add a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate and four of icing sugar in the mixing bowl and stir with the same spoon until the two components are homogeneously mixed. It is important that the measurements with the spoon are similar, for this the spoon can be leveled with a small ruler. Once well mixed, the components are left aside.
Step 2
In the metal container a good amount of beach sand is thrown, forming a kind of mountain-two or three glasses of sand could be worth. With the spoon that we used before, we crushed the sand in the center and made a small hole (as a crater of a volcano, but without deepening). Finally, we spray the sand well with alcohol and deposit the mixture of sugar and bicarbonate that we have previously made right in the hole. Once everything is ready, we go abroad to "invoke the serpent."
If we make pills with the mixture, the result can be more spectacular.
Step 3
watch out! In this step it is very important to take the appropriate precautionary measures. Before carrying out this step, it is necessary to have a bottle with water at hand and to get far enough away from the mixture. In addition, it is very important that it is carried out in an open and well-ventilated place.
Once all the precautions mentioned have been taken, we light the lighter - if it is much better - we light the alcohol in the sand and wait.
When the central part of the volcano catches on, we will see how little by little "black snakes" begin to emerge and do not stop growing.

read more:
https://www.monografias.com/docs/La-serpiente-del-faraon-FKCKVJZBZ
https://www.encuentrosconlaciencia.es/?page_id=2056