Pharaoh’s Snakes: New Variation Based on Ammonium Chlorochromate

A new variation of the classic Pharaoh’s Snake chemical demonstration is presented, using ammonium chlorochromate as the decomposing compound. This reaction produces a visually striking green snake composed mostly of chromium(III) oxide. We refer to this experiment as the “Chromium Python”. Unlike traditional demonstrations based on mercury thiocyanate or ammonium dichromate, this method offers simpler preparation and avoids the production of airborne chromium(III) compounds. This reaction can serve as an excellent example of the exothermic decomposition of inorganic compounds. The synthetic procedure, reaction conditions, and safety considerations are discussed, proposing this variant as visually impressive alternative for classroom or public chemical demonstrations.