3 ms·
On chlorine trifluoride: ”It is, of course, extremely toxic, but that’s the least of the problem. It is hypergolic with every known fuel, and so rapidly hyperg
by sonofgod 6y ago
On chlorine trifluoride:
”It is, of course, extremely toxic, but that’s the least of the problem. It is hypergolic with every known fuel, and so rapidly hypergolic that no ignition delay has ever been measured. It is also hypergolic with such things as cloth, wood, and test engineers, not to mention asbestos, sand, and water-with which it reacts explosively. It can be kept in some of the ordinary structural metals-steel, copper, aluminium, etc.-because of the formation of a thin film of insoluble metal fluoride which protects the bulk of the metal, just as the invisible coat of oxide on aluminium keeps it from burning up in the atmosphere. If, however, this coat is melted or scrubbed off, and has no chance to reform, the operator is confronted with the problem of coping with a metal-fluorine fire. For dealing with this situation, I have always recommended a good pair of running shoes.”
(via https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2008/02/26/sand_wont_save_you_this_time https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2008/02/26/sa...)
- sonofgod 6y ago"hypergolic: igniting spontaneously on mixing with another substance."
- dugditches 6y agoThis entire video is informing and related. But to your comment: https://youtu.be/Zha9DyS-PPA?t=651 https://youtu.be/Zha9DyS-PPA?t=651
- Sharlin 6y agoI never fail to upvote this quote.
- erik_seaberg 6y agoI've read every Things I Won't Work With and I wish Lowe would write more; he's the Dave Barry of chemistry.
- jowiar 6y agoI spent years following Lowe for the Things he Won't Work With, but somewhere a few weeks ago I was made aware of his coverage of COVID drug development, which has been phenomenal (and is what he actually does work with).
- cstross 6y agoBut ClF3 is harmless compared to dimethyl mercury (which he also goes into) -- and which the USAF contemplated as a reaction mass for air to air missiles, until they realized the mercury in the exhaust plume would melt their launch aircraft wings (not to mention being a potent neurotoxin), at which point they tried to sell it to the US Navy!