(Part 3) Top products from r/chemicalreactiongifs

Explosive Elephant Toothpaste!! edited to correct ingredient - and update notes

My goal was big, shooting foam steams! I tried other methods and recipes - but this worked best!

What is happening in elephant toothpaste: hydrogen peroxide is made up of two hydrogen and two oxygen molecules. This is one extra oxygen molecule than water. Hydrogen peroxide is very unstable; it keeps wanting to lose that extra oxygen molecule. In this experiment, we use potassium iodide as a catalyst to knock off that extra oxygen molecule very quickly, and soap to capture those molecules of oxygen in foam.

I tried this with two different flask types: 2L Erlenmeyer flask and 2L graduated cylinder.

For each flask I needed the following:

• 250ml 35% H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide)
  
• 50ml 4 molar KI (dry, granular potassium iodide)
  
• a bit of dish soap
  
  To get (my best approximation of) 4 molar KI, I put 35 mg of nearly-pure granular KI in a small glass measuring beaker, and filled it to 50 ml with cool tap water.
  
  If you use smaller flasks, you will need to cut the ingredients by about 1/2.
  
  I was able to buy the chemicals and all the flasks online. Please be careful with the hydrogen peroxide – it will burn your skin at this concentration.
  
  The result is soapy water - but there may be some residual hydrogen peroxide. Simply rinsing the area well should be sufficient.
  
  Steps:
  
  Pre-make the KI solution, and measure out all other chemicals.
  
  USING GLOVES AND EYE PROTECTION
  
  -- Put 250ml H2O2 in each flask
  -- Put ~25-30 ml of dish soap in each flask
  -- Add a few drops food coloring of color desired (complicates clean-up - be warned!)
  -- QUICKLY add 50 ml KI solution to each flask and jump back!
  
  Notes:
  
  The graduated cylinder produces a thick pillar of foam, the Erlenmeyer flask produces more of a jet.
  
  The chemicals should be added by an adult.
  
  If you film this, be sure to have the person filming stand back, and be prepared to capture an 8 to 10 foot jet coming out of the flask.
  
  Shopping list (what I used):
  
  This puts out a thick column of foam:
  213I16 Karter Scientific 2000ml Glass Graduated Cylinder, Single Metric Scale ‪https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006UKIBKU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_8OuWxbG8YRB8N‬
  
  This puts out a narrow/taller jet of foam - I now have three:
  2000ml / 2L Narrow Mouth Erlenmeyer Flask with Heavy Duty Rim ‪https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Q34D0HC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_rQuWxb4708ZVJ‬
  
  Pure Health Discounts Certified 35% Hydrogen Peroxide with 1 oz Bottle Dropper - 32 oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AKIGJW4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_YD4pzbZTGXC86
  
  Potassium Iodide, High Purity Crystals, 99.8 % min., 100 grams ‪https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008D8161I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_PTuWxb0N94SZQ‬
  
  Atlas Glove 620 Atlas Vinylove 12" Double Dipped Gloves - Small (they come in different sizes) ‪https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002PJ0WRK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_nUuWxbSQCV77N‬
  
  Learning Resources Primary Science Safety Glasses (good size for kids) ‪https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006ZLSWFI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_SVuWxbBKKKD9R‬
  
  Heathrow Scientific HD15909 Spatula with Flat End and Spoon End, 9" Overall Length (optional - but good for mixing the potassium iodide) ‪https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0061OT1A4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_qSuWxbA6R27C3‬
  

Pure silver wouldn’t “rust” per se, but electroplated nickel steel (EPNS) items could.

So, we have display items from the 1800s at work, proper silver that has been hallmarked.

If there is a considerable amount of issues with an item, a soft toothbrush and a bit of elbow grease dipped in
silver polish cream will remove most of the patina (we like our silver shiny). To remove the additional polish that sticks into the nooks and crannies (the excess polish dries dull pink to be easily seen), dip the toothbrush into
silver dip
(different tubs for display and food service items!) and scrub off the dried up polish. Buff with a soft cloth (we use ripped up old cotton bed sheets as rags).

The use of gloves and a face mask is always greatly encouraged, especially the latter when you’re removing the dried polish, becomes a fine dust.

Food service items, we’ll silver dip in a tub (again different bottles for food and display), then immediately wash in running water. We may use a soft sponge to scrub it a bit. If there is a spec of rust through the EPNS, we’ll clean that off with a
Brillo Pad
very lightly; you will cause some fine micro scratches to the plating around the rust, but it’ll just remove a fine layer.

NOT TO BE USED ON DISPLAY ITEMS!

I’ve had a group of over zealous lads come through before and pour a bit of silver dip into a silver ice bucket from 1870s before, then leave it in the Silver Store. Since it wasn’t a piece that was regularly rotated for display, we didn’t realise that it was full with dip for the better part of a few months. Couldn’t smell it either, since the store smelled of polish. When we did find it, it was as expected, but with crystals everywhere. Turned a sludgy black too. The acid in the dip actually burned through the silver, so that was totally lost.

To remove the crystals, a screwdriver, hot water, and a few hours of chipping and scrubbing may have been involved. Externally the ice bucket is still display worthy, just don’t look inside.

Once the silver plate is lost, it’ll be just a base brassy yellow colour in that spot. I’ll try to find an example at work later.

We regularly dip our EPNS cutlery at least once or twice a week; after through washing (especially if egg yolk has been involved), open a jar and just dip the fork tines in, less than 2 seconds is enough, if you want to swirl it around you can too, until the tarnish is removed, then wash in running water.

I work in a shop where sheet metal is readily available, and scrap is ok to use for whatever we want.

A 120v muffin fan came into my possession by means I do not remember. I glued a neodymium magnet from a dead hard drive to the fan, and built an enclosure to which I mounted the fan, and a 120v dimmer switch to control the speed of said fan.

I then purchased stir bars, to stir the starter in a 2 liter Erlenmeyer flask.

I bought a dimmer switch at Home Depot, and I get an amazing turbination in my starters.


The result is an inexpensive alternative to commercially available stir plates.

Paid $45.00 for the flask, $7.00 for the switch, maybe $9.00 for the stir bars, but the satisfaction of seeing the thing work, and work well, was so validating and fun to do!

This is getting pricey:

Solution A:

• Potassium Iodate $40 (this is for 100g and the video calls for 43g).
  
• Sulfuric acid $20 I don't think this is concentrated enough to do the trick. This might be a showstopper since, even if I could get ahold of a higher concentration, I've heard too many horror stories about working with undiluted sulfuric acid that I may just want to pass.
  
  Solution B:
  
  
• Corn Starch $8
  
• Malonic Acid $10
  
• Manganese Sulfate Monohydrate $15
  
  Solution C:
  
  
• Hydrogen Peroxide $17
  
  
  And distilled water is a couple bucks per gallon at the grocery store. Looking at around $100, and that is assuming I get all the ingredients right the first time and don't have to reorder any of this and ruin some of my ingredients in the process. Many of the ingredients will have leftovers, but the potassium Iodate seems pretty expensive for such a small amount that I'll use half of just to make one batch.
  
  EDIT: Not too surprisingly, it seems like the acids and peroxides I've listed may not be nearly concentrated enough to do the trick.
  
  EDIT2: Updated hydrogen peroxide link to a 35% concentration instead of first aid style which is 2-3%.

I used to create something like this as a kid using zap glue and spraying way too much zip kicker on it. It comes out pure white like styrofoam. Be careful because it is exothermic. Gave myself quite a burn once doing it. Not a scientist and not sure exactly how safe it is. The volume will also be way less than a can of Great Stuff, but maybe an idea?

HotSnapZ Hand Warmers Reusable Round & Pocket Warmers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004CV2YXE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_1tfOBb25S2G2J

This looks like the stuff

Same company makes magnetic putty. I ordered some of that a couple months back and it's fun stuff!

We made some of it in the lab a long time ago. People really love playing with it. Though be careful, the stuff is usually very unsafe so keep it sealed. For anyone looking for some:

Link

I have been meaning to buy this for my personal use, I do not know if it is as good as others, but there is the link anyway.

It isn't exactly only because of the buttons, for sure. But this is a really interesting read if you're into history and science.

http://www.amazon.com/Napoleons-Buttons-Molecules-Changed-History/dp/1585423319

more like 150$

Reminds me of the book The Alchemist. Highly recommend

Edit: formatting smh

https://www.amazon.com/Allergy-Advanced-Nasal-Filter-Count/dp/B003JBX158 when outside for long periods + using a neti pot before sleep are life savers.

These are cheaper.

Through the magic of the internet of course!

Then do.

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Dog-Leventhal-Elements-Puzzle/dp/1579128882 think this is it

We don't even have to harvest it ourselves.

This is used in magic tricks where the magician pours a seemingly large amount of water into a newspaper/handkerchief/cup, turn it upside down and nothing leaks out.

https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Slush-Powder-Impossible-Lightening/dp/B004DJJU28

https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/store/water-gel-magic-slush-powder.html

Naw, this is stuff that used to be used in cute handwarmers. You don't see that type so much anymore though.

And yeah, Sodium Polyacrylate is a very absorbant polymer that's used in fake snow demos and stuff.

from reading a book about the SL-1 incident, the writer alludes to the fact that it was a poor design. the control rods cadmium coating was flaking off making the reactor easier to go critical.
here is the book I'm referring too:
http://www.amazon.com/Idaho-Falls-Americas-Nuclear-Accident/dp/1550225626