Crazy experience with elements (Chemistry/Physics)

[silverleaf81]

I've always been interested in Chemistry and Physics, REALLY interested. Once i really wanted to get some radiactive matter. The first that came to mind for me was: Americium from ionizing fire alarms. It isn't that bad, it only fires Alpha rays, the least dangerous (which can only hurt you if your breath in the metals particles and it only gives you cancer...nothing that bad ). One of our fire alarms was not setup, so i grabbed it broke it and looked for the Americium but not there...then i realised i had broken a Photoelectric Fire Alarm...the only thing i got from this was a $10 from my parents for breaking their Fire Alarm...next time il get it...and then after that, i'l get some Sodium! (ok,the fire alarm was not dangerous but still)


Have you ever done something crazy with an element for fun or research or whatever?

 

[Pimppeter2]

Cola and mentos.

But who hasn't done that.

 

[SimSquid92]

I'm a chemistry student, so I've mucked around with a bit. It isn't that interesting though, just stuff like burning magnesium and phosphorus, and getting silver nitrate stains all over my clothes. Pretty boring stuff

 

[Lunar Shadow]

I've always been interested in Chemistry and Physics, REALLY interested. Once i really wanted to get some radiactive matter. The first that came to mind for me was: Americium from ionizing fire alarms. It isn't that bad, it only fires Alpha rays, the least dangerous (which can only hurt you if your breath in the metals particles and it only gives you cancer...nothing that bad ). One of our fire alarms was not setup, so i grabbed it broke it and looked for the Americium but not there...then i realised i had broken a Photoelectric Fire Alarm...the only thing i got from this was a $10 from my parents for breaking their Fire Alarm...next time il get it...and then after that, i'l get some Sodium! (ok,that was not dangerous but still)


Have you ever done something crazy with an element for fun or research or whatever?

Actually sodium IS dangerous. Anything you have to handle with gloves so that it doesn't react to the moisture on your skin is pretty damn dangerous when said reaction is to burn very very hot.

 

[Jark212]

Aluminum [powdered aluminum] and IronOxide [Rust]

Good times... Good times...

 

[blankedboy]

Cola and mentos.

But who hasn't done that.

Pick me!

 

[Mookie_Magnus]

Aluminum [powdered aluminum] and IronOxide [Rust]

Good times... Good times...

Isn't that how you make Thermite?

 

[Bob_Bobbington]

Aluminum [powdered aluminum] and IronOxide [Rust]

Good times... Good times...

Ah yes, I have to agree with you there.

OT: Also some potassium nitrate and other chemicals can be good for a laugh

 

[Jark212]

Aluminum [powdered aluminum] and IronOxide [Rust]

Good times... Good times...

Isn't that how you make Thermite?

I can nether confirm nor deny that information...

Me in the 6th grade, the makings of a survivalist...

 

[Pingieking]

4th year Physics

Me and a buddy made a functional rail gun. We can't get high enough currents top shoot something cool, but the wiring is capable of handling quite a lot of power. But it's not computerized, so the projectile loses a lot of velocity at the nozzle because the current won't reverse fast enough.
I've also converted a normal flashlight into a pretty sweet laser pointer. Used the laser diode from an old DVD burner. Normal laser pointers are about 5~6 milliwatts, but this thing has 300+ milliwatts. It's capable of bursting balloons. Also capable of blinding people.

As for research, I just finished a job in December that had me extracting metabolites from rat brains (mmm... rat brain milkshakes) and measuring them in a NMR Spectrometer. I found that to be a sweet job. But I still need to write the report *cry*. Due the end of Jan, and I haven't started yet. I hate writing.

Be careful with the sodium. Apparently just a few decigrams down the sink can make a decent sized hole in the kitchen.

 

[Flos]

I haven't done this yet, but I pretty much have the goal of going into science in college (Physics, but that's completely irrelevant) just so I can have access to materials so I can drop a giant (see: football sized) piece of sodium in a lake.

I don't care if I (and a good number or organisms) die in the process. Sodiuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum!

 

[silverleaf81]

I've always been interested in Chemistry and Physics, REALLY interested. Once i really wanted to get some radiactive matter. The first that came to mind for me was: Americium from ionizing fire alarms. It isn't that bad, it only fires Alpha rays, the least dangerous (which can only hurt you if your breath in the metals particles and it only gives you cancer...nothing that bad ). One of our fire alarms was not setup, so i grabbed it broke it and looked for the Americium but not there...then i realised i had broken a Photoelectric Fire Alarm...the only thing i got from this was a $10 from my parents for breaking their Fire Alarm...next time il get it...and then after that, i'l get some Sodium! (ok,that was not dangerous but still)


Have you ever done something crazy with an element for fun or research or whatever?

Actually sodium IS dangerous. Anything you have to handle with gloves so that it doesn't react to the moisture on your skin is pretty damn dangerous when said reaction is to burn very very hot.

Actualy i ment the fire alarm experiment i know of the alkali metals, their awesome. FRANCIUM FTW

 

[silverleaf81]

Also, i wanna see some Cesium explode (in real life) before i die. 5 grams can blow up a bath tub in half. Also gotta be careful of the Cesium Hydroxide (as with all alkali metals liquid aftermath). I would love to some Francium explode, but: 1 its REALLY radioactive with a half life of 1 day 2 the explosion would be big, and 3 theirs BARLEY ANY ONE EARTH!