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Well, I learned chemistry (UK O-level and A-level) about 50 years ago, and back then you could do almost anything you fancied with the reagents available, which
by zabzonk 7y ago
Well, I learned chemistry (UK O-level and A-level) about 50 years ago, and back then you could do almost anything you fancied with the reagents available, which did stop short of things like fluorine, but only just. Did you know you can dip your (dry) fingers into concentrated sulphuric acid and only experience a feeling of warmth, as the acid reacts with the oils of your skin? As to what we got up to with metallic sodium, carcinogenic aromatics, and noxious gases, I shudder to think about now, but we did learn a lot of chemistry on the side. We did have a brilliant teacher, though.
- MadWombat 7y ago> fingers into concentrated sulphuric acid You might want to wash your fingers under a lot of cold water after that :)
- samatman 7y agoReal talk: don't do this. Instead, wash the affected area with bicarbonate of soda. Then cold water.
- MadWombat 7y agoReal talk it is. "Bicarbonate of soda" is not a thing, either say baking soda or sodium bicarbonate. Sulfuric acid is water soluble, there is nothing wrong with washing it off under running water. There is a bit of a problem if you are washing off a lot of acid (i.e. you stuck your whole arm into a vat of acid) or if you are using a container with water rather than a source of running water. When sulfuric acid gets diluted a lot of energy gets released, so if you have a lot of acid or not enough water, you might get burned before the acid is washed away.
- zabzonk 7y agoCertainly, don't pick your nose :)
- harry8 7y agoHang on. Don't go to the toilet!
- AlexMoffat 7y agoDistillation using benzene. I remember that. Not something anyone is allowed to do now, and rightly so.