Random Thread #1

[rocket]

Hi guy, just wondering if there is any other way to make MgCl2 other than reacting Mg(OH)2 with HCl. I’ve stared to try made make Mg(OH)2 by putting Mg fillings in water but this is taking a long time.

I can get MgCO3 would adding it to HCl work like a few other metals?

[h0lx]

ofcoure it does yield MgCl. And why add Mg to water first and then react with HCl? wou could react Mg just with HCl.

 

Ill post the reactions so you would see why.

 

Mg(OH)2 + 2HCl -> MgCl2 + 2H2O

Mg + 2HCl -> MgCl2 + H2

MgCO3 + 2HCl -> MgCl2 + H2O + CO2

[fredjr]

I have recently started making my own charcoal for a faster BP. I have some milled BP I made with cowboy brand charcoal. So to use it up I was making some crossettes with it. Adding different things to make to make other formulas. I mixed some 50/50 with zinc powder to make something like Akwapo Green. I know the ratio is different - just experimenting. Anyways I wet it 10% by wieght with water. After making a few crossettes I noticed the bowl was warming up - measuring around 130F with my infrared temp sensor. So I took the bowl outside and set it on a snow bank to cool off. After cooling off I resumed making crossettes keeping an eye on the temp. It heated back up and the crossettes were also quite warm. Nothing ever went over 130F and since my drying box is pretty close to that I went ahead. Well, the resulting crossettes burn rather slow and don't give off much color (basically suck). So what reaction caused this and how do I prevent it? I'm assuming something like the problem with kno3/Al and using boric acid to prevent. But since it's been 20+ years since I had chemistry and I've never seen any mention of this, figured I'd ask the chemistry guys here.

[Mumbles]

Zinc has very similar reactivity to aluminum as far as mechanism and such, so I would imagine it could be zinc. Did you notice any ammonia? If not, it might not be the nitrate. Your nitrate or charcoal could be contaminated with sodium or potassium carbonate or hydroxide which would attack the zinc. Zinc is very sensitive to base and acid. More specifically base, as it generates more water and hydroxide ions and is self-catalysing.

[pudidotdk]

I've also tried my zinc mixture heating up. I don't quite remember the mixture, its something around BP and zinc, not remember if i put aluminium flitters in too..

My guess would actually be the nitrate and zinc, because zinc reacts with amommiumnitrate and water. But i'm not an expert so i'm not sure.

[DeAdFX]

I've also tried my zinc mixture heating up. I don't quite remember the mixture, its something around BP and zinc, not remember if i put aluminium flitters in too..

My guess would actually be the nitrate and zinc, because zinc reacts with amommiumnitrate and water. But i'm not an expert so i'm not sure.

Zinc reacts with Ammonium Nitrate and the Chloride ion. If I remember correctly there isn't any noticable exothermic reaction between zinc and AN.

[FrankRizzo]

Hi guy, just wondering if there is any other way to make MgCl2 other than reacting Mg(OH)2 with HCl. I’ve stared to try made make Mg(OH)2 by putting Mg fillings in water but this is taking a long time.

I can get MgCO3 would adding it to HCl work like a few other metals?

If it's cold where you're living, look no further than your local WalMart or hardware store. MgCl2 is sold as an alternative to NaCl ice-melt product.

[Mumbles]

Are you sure about that? I've never seen it alone as an ice melter. It's rather hydroscopic IIRC, so rather storage instable. I've seen Calcium chloride relatively alone many times. It does have a CaCO3 coating on it. I think I've MgCl2 seen it combined with NaCl and CaCl2, but never pure.

 

You could mix solutions of Epsom salt (MgSO4) with CaCl2 ice melter. The coating doesn't matter as it will be filtered off anyway with the CaSO4.

[Swany]

Never heard of FrTi being that dangerous, and I'm pretty sure I've used it in presence of water before...

I can imagine that being dangerous, belive it or not.

 

 

Sorry, had to do that... However, I cannot see why the FeTi would be such a thing to avoid. Titanium is quite reactive, well, it will burn in pure nitrogen when ignited. It forms a passive oxide layer, but perhaps the Fe renders that layer incomplete and broken. Steam will react with it in the usual manner of forming H2. Curious...

 

EDIT: Whoops, realised that was on the other page. Gee, I need to read up more often. My bad if this has already been discussed over and over.

[rocket]

ofcoure it does yield MgCl. And why add Mg to water first and then react with HCl? wou could react Mg just with HCl.

 

Ill post the reactions so you would see why.

 

Mg(OH)2 + 2HCl -> MgCl2 + 2H2O

Mg + 2HCl -> MgCl2 + H2

MgCO3 + 2HCl -> MgCl2 + H2O + CO2

Thanks for that, thats wat happens when use use wiki as a source

 

@ FrankRizzo, I live in Australia so these no change of snow at all here

[DeAdFX]

Sweet mother of god.... I am having some issues drying out Sodium Benzoate for use as a burst powder and whistle fuel. I recently prepared Sodium Benzoate via stoichiometric amounts of benzoic acid and sodium bicarbonate in hot water. A large voluminous precipitate appeared after cooling. I crushed the precipitate and placed it on a glass pie pan for drying. Air drying didn't work nor did heating it on a hotplate. I can't use an oven as my parents would freak out on me.

 

 

Would vacuum drying be a viable way to produce anhydrous Sodium Benzoate? I assume Sodium benzoate is pretty violiatile in comparison to its corresponding acid so I am uncertain if vacuum drying will clog up my pump.

[asilentbob]

I think i may have just killed a bunch of brain cells on odor-less turpenoid... Damn you oil paints, damn you...

[weknowpyro]

Just saw this- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6402493.stm

I'm not quite sure but i believe that when they smash the particles into each other it causes anti-matter to form for split seconds which mimick the big bang theory.

Abit annoying that we have to wait another year until we hear the results.

 

On another note:

I am pretty pleased with myself, I was having difficulty setting off powder charges in my muzzleloader, so i have just made some homemade precussion caps that work everytime.

[Mumbles]

I'd suggest annexing the parent's oven while they are away. The vacuum will draw any remaining water off, but it won't remove any waters of hydration present. There is no alternative for heating to remove water of hydration. The hot plate should work on a lowish setting for several hours. Too high and it will decompose.

 

Maybe put it out in the sun if the weather is seasonable.

[optimus]

Just saw this- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6402493.stm

I'm not quite sure but i believe that when they smash the particles into each other it causes anti-matter to form for split seconds which mimick the big bang theory.

Abit annoying that we have to wait another year until we hear the results.

Pesky physicists - it's all fun and games until someone presses the wrong button, creates a giant black hole and turns the universe inside out

[asilentbob]

Well started the subscription process for the PML, TFEML, and PGI-ML...

 

I also made a 75:15:10 shirt. Its green with orange text. It still needs something. I'm thinking perhaps a greene man or some other symbol that pyros would recognise and say "Oh, its got the major BP comosition AND blank, theres no way that the shirt means otherwise..."... Oh and orange really wasn't the best color for it... Sure i could just do a little flame... but no... I'm thinking that im going to put 75:15:10 on the back too, and maybe use that 2FA blood type line or the ol he who hath smelt the smoke line...

[FrankRizzo]

I'd suggest annexing the parent's oven while they are away. The vacuum will draw any remaining water off, but it won't remove any waters of hydration present. There is no alternative for heating to remove water of hydration. The hot plate should work on a lowish setting for several hours. Too high and it will decompose.

 

Maybe put it out in the sun if the weather is seasonable.

Mumbles is right, you won’t get your product fully dry unless you heat it moderately for a few hrs. Be aware if you do decide to "play while mother is away" that sodium and potassium benzoate stink to high hell if you heat them too much. The smell is an acrid, acidic odor that defies description.

[Frozentech]

Well started the subscription process for the PML, TFEML, and PGI-ML...

 

I also made a 75:15:10 shirt. Its green with orange text. It still needs something. I'm thinking perhaps a greene man or some other symbol that pyros would recognise and say "Oh, its got the major BP comosition AND blank, theres no way that the shirt means otherwise..."... Oh and orange really wasn't the best color for it... Sure i could just do a little flame... but no... I'm thinking that im going to put 75:15:10 on the back too, and maybe use that 2FA blood type line or the ol he who hath smelt the smoke line...

My favorite pyro shirt hands down is still the classic with the 1.3G placard on the front with "Warning: Shoots flaming balls" and across the shoulders "PYRO CREW", underneath that, the line - "if you see me running, try to keep up!" Pyrogear sells one like it.

 

As far as the green man logo : Greenman Tattoo

[maximusg]

That tattoo is badass man. I was thinking of getting the ne'er free again quote done some where. I want to add maybe a symbol as well. Still gotta think about it for a while though.

[DeAdFX]

Woohoo... Making some Barium Ascorbate. I didn't expect the stuff to stink to high heaven... God damn H2S. I hope this stuff makes a descent green.

 

Alright back... I have this thick sludge of barium shit[ I don't think I boiled all the water off]. I have no clue what I really have here. I mixed 1.3grams of this gunk with ~3 grams of Ammonium perchlorate. The stuff made some surprisingly loud crackling sounds and made a descent looking green. The compisition wasn't self sustaining. I think I need to boil more water. Hmmm.. I thik I will use less water next time and I will vacuum dry it instead...

[asilentbob]

It does look badass indeed, i have been putting mild thought into tattoos, and if i keep on truckin so to speak with pyrotechnics for a few more years i would definatly consider something like that.

[DeAdFX]

Hmm Barium Ascorbate is utter shit as a green coloring agent. I let the stuff sit out overnight and I still have this thick gunk. The stuff also burns organish like with a little bit of green flaring up every so often.

 

Bah just wasted some precious chemicals:/ O well time for more experimenting and stuff

 

Btw I noticed something odd. Barium carbonate in small amounts seems to improve the blue color in copper based blues... hmm

[fight fire with fire]

I just wrecked my hand with ablow torch trying to light a ballon filled with deodarant . But at least my whole family are treating me like a king ! there bringining me anythining i want. It's tough trying to typewith one hanf.

[Mumbles]

And that is why we use good fueses for things like that.

[fredjr]

I just wrecked my hand with ablow torch trying to light a ballon filled with deodarant . But at least my whole family are treating me like a king ! there bringining me anythining i want.  It's tough trying to typewith one hanf.

Balloons and deodorant, how kewl is that?