File under: So don’t try this at home
Chemistry sets are getting a tad passe, if not whimpy. Well, try this book on for size:
Controversy over potentially hazardous chemistry experiments is nothing new. This amazing book only lasted two editions because it was considered too dangerous for children. Now, only 126 copies exist in libraries. Fortunately, a beautiful PDF version is available online. Modern texts
still shy away from child-damaging pyrotechnic experiments but contain hundreds of very important projects. Geekkids can learn about gases and solids, acids and bases, atomic structure, osmosis, chemical bonding, solvents, crystallization… everything. Source: Geekdad - Wired Blogs
I downloaded the book and started to skim it. Holy crap there was stuff I wouldn’t consider trying outside of a very well equipped lab (fume hood and all safety stuff on hand), scarier there is stuff I wouldn’t try even in a lab. I’ve handled some really, really nasty stuff (carcinogens, mutagens, explosive mixtures, and highly exothermic reactions), so I’m not a lab wuss, but wow making hydrogen sulfide gas? Chlorine gas? Heck no.
Now, in the interest of science, it’s a great read. A supervised read for the older kids. Oh and remind them that you can’t pull batteries apart anymore (you’ll understand if you read it).
June 18th, 2007 at 9:51 am
Well, I’ve done most of those things, and some even more dangerous stuff. Making Hydrogen Sulfide isn’t too bad as long as the maker realized that it desensitizes the nose to it, and that it’s highly poisonous, even in small quantities[1]. Chlorine gas isn’t too bad, either, as long as it’s in small quantities (and that it doesn’t kick off an asthma response). I had this really neat electroless plating solution based on Cyanide. Now that’s dangerous stuff. The first indication that you’ve whiffed it is that you drop dead. HydroFluoric Acid is another nasty one that’s used for chip preparation. But, I find myself more reluctant to do these dangerous things as I get older.
[1] This brings up a good point. When you’re not sure what you’re doing, at least do it in small quantities. That way, there’ll be less of a mess to clean up, and there’ll be less chance of killing yourself.
Of course, chemistry isn’t the only dangerous lab science. I built a jacob’s ladder while I was a teenager, and I managed to avoid electrocuting myself from the 20KV or so produced.
Part of the trick with any lab operation, whether it’s a home lab, an industrial lab, a research lab, or whatever, is to recognize all the risks and be prepared to deal with them. Of course, the problem is that beginning students don’t often recognize all of the dangers, and, thus, are unprepared to deal with them.
Despite all of the dangerous things I’ve done, the one that came closest to killing me was going to class in engineering school one afternoon. It seems that I stepped out in the street in front of a car, and was flipped over it. OUCH! So, anyway, the point I’m trying to make is that everything is dangerous, and you can be killed doing even the simplest, most common thing. Then, again, publishing such a book for inexperienced kids (without suitable supervision) probably borders on not being a very bright thing for someone to do.
As for pulling batteries apart, well, you certainly can still do that, but you’re not likely to find what the book indicates, since battery technology has changed over the years. Back when that book was written, most primary batteries were based on the Leclanche Carbon/Zinc cell. But, now, most primary batteries are based on Alkaline cell technology, which is quite different. Thus, you won’t find a Carbon rod in the newer cells. :-(
Dave
June 18th, 2007 at 10:27 am
Ah my old friend HF. Such a strong acid that it feels like water on your skin because your nerve endings are burned and killed before they can transmit the pain response.
I used that one a lot in the lab. My nose always started to itch when I was pouring (because I couldn’t scratch it).
Dave you are bang on with lab safety. All these hazards were drilled into me when I was in the lab, of course that didn’t keep me from not having my hands far enough in the hood when I was using glacial acetic acid … I think my nose bled for hours from that one.
Lab safety is key. It’s not hard, you just have to know.