[TheForge] acid

[Saint Phlip]

On 5/12/07, Daniel Kretchmar <dan at irontreeworks.com> wrote:
> Greetings,
>          I have just aquired some acid.  I am a science teacher and the
> OSHA liason for my Middle School.  Our school just required that any
> chemical that has not been used in a classroom within the last three
> years be disposed of via a Hazardous Waste Disposal Company.  I pretty much
> emptied the cabinets, but there were several unopened bottles that just
> looked too useful so I took them home.  I have now have:

Got the molarities?

> 1 gallon of regent grade Sulfuric Acid

Known in period as "oil of vitriol". Used as a pickle to remove rust,
scale,  and oxidation from steel. Also is what is in most car
batteries.

> 1 liter of Nitric acid

Part of Aqua Regia, a period concoction for dissolving the "noble"
metals, particularly gold, but will also dissolve platinum. Aqua Regia
is 3:1 nitric and hydrochloric acids mixed, but don't ask me which is
one and which is 3.

> 3 liters of distilled Acetic Acid,

Basicly, the acid in vinegar. Works well for descaling steel and iron,
although much slower than sulphuric. Vinegar's what I tell beginners
to use to passivate stainless steel- I figure they can't screw
themselves up too badly with vinegar, whereas I wouldn't want someone
new to acids playing with sulphuric. Mix it with steel wool, and
dilute it, and you have a killer black dye for leatherwork ;-)
"Killer" meaning a very nice, intensely black color. Reacts well with
the tannin in veggie tanned leathers.

> 1 gallon of crystaline of Potassium Chlorate=20

I'd be careful with it. That and the nitric have explosive potential,
and considering today's terrorism paranoia, no telling what someone
might decide you're doing with it. But, it works pretty well with
bleach in cleaning things.

> 1 gallon of crystaline NaOH  (lye)

Cleans your stove and drains real well, too ;-)

> 1 pint of crystaline Ferric Chloride

Etches copper.

> Can any suggest a use for these that doesn't go "BOOM"?  I learned alot  of
> those in chemistry class. :)
>
> I know about safe handling of these chemicals thanks to OHSA training.
>
> I have used Nitric Acid for etching in the past and Potassium Chlorate is
> great for homemade fire works.  The lye I can use for leather tanning and
> the Ferric Chloride for dipping my pattern welding into.......
>
> Can anyone recommend a use for the the others or different uses than the
> ones I already mentioned?
>
>
> Dan Kretchmar
> www.irontreeworks.com


-- 
Saint Phlip

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Hit it hard
Repent as necessary.

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