I teach an introductory inorganic course at the first year level.  One of the key skills I want them to master in those first weeks of lab is the idea of turning a chemical description into equations (plus at the same time learning basic lab technique like filtering and observing).  I have used both the copper cycle lab and an alum synthesis lab for this purpose in the past but I am getting a bit tired of those and looking for something new.  Anyone have a favorite lab where you take something through a number of different types of reactions (ideally precipitation, redox, complexation and acid base in there somewhere) and get to do filtration as well?  Colors are a plus!