Gilded

Yeah well, the Big Bang itself is preddy clouded; There should have been equal quantities of both anti-matter and matter, however, somehow there was more matter and that matter became the universe. Just a theory, though. And I should have said "only large reservoir that naturally existed". For example, a beta+ decay produces a positron (which is the antiparticle of electron).

"some theories even exist that state that for every form of matter, there is another form of antimatter somewhere". Meaning that every particle type has an antiparticle (for example, electrons and positrons), but there isn't an equal amount of matter and anti-matter in the universe.

http://georgiagulfsulfur.com/

All you ever wanted to know about major sulfur production.

1st attempt at isolating the chlorate and perchlorate:

Used a glass jar. And a lighter. Jar goes boom, match head mush all over the place. >:/ I think I'm going to use a steel kettle next time.

By the way, how much energy does a single deuterium-deuterium fusion produce?

So, let me get this straight:

1. Take off the match head stuff.

2. Boil it in a small amount of water until the sulfur and cardboard comes off.

3. Pour it through a coffee filter.

4. Boil it some more, until the potassium chlorate/perchlorate starts to form.

5. Dry the KClO3/O4 and make powder out of it.

That's all?

"If anyone can get hold of some liquid nitrogen, you'll be impressed by your new processor speed . I believe someone actually did try that, case the processor within a liquid nitrogen case and clocked it to an insane amount."

I hope the overclocking world record is still the one done in Finland, by Finnish people (with liquid N, of course). (Probably the Japanese have broken it already, though :< )

So it isn't that easy to isolate pure KClO3/O4 at all, or is it?

I don't think the red stuff is phosphorous. If I'm correct, matches with red P in them haven't been produced for a looong time (because they kept igniting without warning on hot days, in people's pockets). So unless your matches are almost antique, the red is most likely something else than red phosphorous.

Umm, what I meant is that I can easily check the colors and effects because I happen to be Finnish (and I think the page is pretty comprehensive), but a non-Finn in need of colors or effects for their flash powder wouldn't have much use for the page. Even though, I wonder what's the best chemical for green or turquoise flames (those colors rock). Some sort of barium compound for green and CuCl for turquoise, maybe. Any better suggestions?

Edit: Probably barium chlorate that YT2095 mentioned earlier is the best way to produce green flames. Not sure about it though.

Yes oh yes. Fireworks have always fascinated me so (last new year I think I spend about 80 euros on fireworks ). I actually found a page about the colors and effects in such reactions. Too bad the page is in Finnish, but I'm sure a similar (or even better) page could be found easily with Google or such, if anyone else is interested in fancy effects.

Hmm... So a one number change in pH is a tenfold decreasement or increasement in H+? So pH 1 (stomach) would be a million times more acidic than blood (about pH 7)? Even though I like acids very much, I know very little of pH and other fun acid related stuff.

I wonder if the potassium chlorate/perchlorate mix works well if used in flash powder. If it does (and if it's the sort of flash powder that doesn't just burn but explode), I think I found myself a new favourite pastime.

Hmmh? Do match heads have potassium chlorate AND perchlorate? I think the perchlorate version of flash powder is not so effective (though it's more stable).

I wonder how you could make barium (or let's say potassium) chlorate yourself... I have no clue.

I agree with 5614. While you're doing (or going to do) something for your work (or just for a hobby), and have access to necessary chemicals, only a few can resist the temptation of making explosives or such. And with good safety precautions, the risk is minimal with most explosives (if I ever make TNT, I think electric ignition from VERY far away is the only option for me ).

By the way, doesn't barium chlorate produce extremely intense green flames? And isn't it very sensitive to friction too? It would be nice to try some, sadly it's hard to get any.

Heh, maybe there's no use for antimatter in the energy production, but as a weapon! Perhaps a small antimatter-torpedo confined within some sort of magnetic fields... Or maybe I have just played too much Master of Orion.

It makes you wonder what it would be like if all the anti-matter that ever naturally existed wasn't annihilated in the Big Bang. Maybe it wouldn't be so nice, with matter and anti-matter particles colliding into each other all the time.

It seems that the most common thermite is actually just basic rust (if Fe2O3 is "basic" rust) + aluminum powder (it needs a lot of heat, though).

2Al + Fe2O3 -> Al2O3 + 2Fe

But what about the Fe3O4-version I mentioned? Is it 2Al + Fe3O4 -> Al2O4 + 2Fe? And does the Fe3O4 alternative produce more heat?

Since there are too many false thermite making instructions on the web (and because I'd like to have a faster way to make a hole through a pine table than sulfuric or permanganic acid ), perhaps it's time to discuss some thermites.

This is a formula I found:

Lighting mix (for the heat to ignite the thermite):

5 parts | Potassium nitrate

3 parts | Powdered aluminum

2 parts | Sulfur

Thermite:

70% Fe3O4 (Fe2O3 will work too?)

23% Powdered aluminum

7% Sulfur

(The Fe3O4 and aluminum are heated in an oven to about 320 degrees Fahrenheit, and then mixed with sulfur)

I have my suspicions of this formula actually working (I haven't tried it), but who knows.

Feel free to post your favorite thermite formula.

"a film container full is more than capable of shattering a concrete paving slab"

Whoah. I think I have underestimated the power of flash powder (or then you English fellas just have gigantic film containers ).

Anyone could easily produce TNT? I don't know about the easy part. Doesn't it involve nitric and sulfuric acid and sodium bisulfate and all sorts of... things? Talking about explosives, anyone ever tried making nitrogen tri-iodide? I sure haven't... But I'm going to make some the second I get my hands on some NH3 and iodine crystals.

Mmm... Permanganic acid sounds great. Gotta find myself a car battery first... and some KMnO4, too.

And to YT2095: Why? Well, there are just too many wooden chairs and tables lying about; got to do something with them. And for the termites, I've always wanted to see some termites in action but sadly there are no termites in Finland, not even roaches or other fun creatures. You UK/other guys should be happy for your nice, furniture/food destroying insects.

Edit: Oh, forgot to ask: I should probably powder the KMnO4 and work in a well ventilated area. Any other safety precautions?

Hello,

I was wondering what sort of acid would be sufficient for going through, let's say, a pine table when you pour like a deciliter on the table? That's an experiment I've always wanted to do, but it seems that a heavily diluted solution of hydrochloric acid just isn't enough.

I wonder if concentrated sulfuric acid is enough? Or perhaps nitric acid?