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It reminds me of Max Gergel's Isopropyl bromide book: When Hildebrand ran the baths the silver came out bright, and stuck to the objects; the minute he left tr

It reminds me of Max Gergel's Isopropyl bromide book: When Hildebrand ran the baths the silver came out bright, and stuck to the objects; the minute he left troubles started. No one knew why. Shortly before he left to go into the antique business in Charleston he showed me the secret. It was his chewing tobacco, spat into the bath from time to time. From then on, one man in each shift chewed, and the problem was solved

alephnerd 3y ago
What's the name of this book? It sounds really cool! Any other recommendations on books about the history of MatSE/Chemistry?
- grandpa 3y ago
  The title is "Excuse me sir, would you like to buy a kilo of isopropyl bromide?" https://archive.org/details/gergel_isopropyl_bromide https://archive.org/details/gergel_isopropyl_bromide
  - alephnerd 3y ago
    Thanks for the rec! Gunna dive into it tonight!
  - jacquesm 3y ago
    That's a hilarious book: "There was a jar which I had not noticed before containing potassium metal. I knew that potassium was a silvery metal, but this was one inch spheres, green with the oil in which they were immersed. I removed two for a collection of elements we were starting at Columbia High, scraped off the oil and put the marbles in my handkerchief which I added to a collection of miscellaneous glassware in my back pocket. " Oops... I can see where that is headed.
- jeremiahbuckley 3y ago
  Oh man, you are in for a treat! This was a terrific read even though I probably only understood 1/3rd of it. Ignition! By John D. Clark https://www.amazon.com/Ignition-audiobook/dp/B07CTW1M9D/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=3GDUUUD5ERNNJ&keywords=ignition+book&qid=1691022984&sprefix=ignition+book%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-1 https://www.amazon.com/Ignition-audiobook/dp/B07CTW1M9D/ref=... Or, maybe you’ve already read it, in which case: great job. Maybe someone else will see this comment and enjoy it. I don’t want to spoil if for you, but I loved the last paragraph. I believe a new heroic age for the field is dawning.
  - alephnerd 3y ago
    Oh dang! This has been on my reading list for years! Definetly looking forward to checking it out!!!
    - jeremiahbuckley 3y ago
      My last chemistry class was in high school, so I had to glide over a lot of the details. But the story is still awesome even with liberal skimming of chem reaction details. This book is probably helping me cope with the extreme confusion of all the various LK-99 attempts. Like, it's going to be a hugely messy confusion and slog with lots of results that are "blend-A can meet 5 of the 7 requirements, but not the important ones. blend-B can meet 3 of the 7, but one of the important ones. blend-C looks very promising but doesn't quite meet any of the requirements." for... years.

alephnerd 3y ago

What's the name of this book? It sounds really cool! Any other recommendations on books about the history of MatSE/Chemistry?

grandpa 3y ago
The title is "Excuse me sir, would you like to buy a kilo of isopropyl bromide?" https://archive.org/details/gergel_isopropyl_bromide https://archive.org/details/gergel_isopropyl_bromide
- alephnerd 3y ago
  Thanks for the rec! Gunna dive into it tonight!
- jacquesm 3y ago
  That's a hilarious book: "There was a jar which I had not noticed before containing potassium metal. I knew that potassium was a silvery metal, but this was one inch spheres, green with the oil in which they were immersed. I removed two for a collection of elements we were starting at Columbia High, scraped off the oil and put the marbles in my handkerchief which I added to a collection of miscellaneous glassware in my back pocket. " Oops... I can see where that is headed.
jeremiahbuckley 3y ago
Oh man, you are in for a treat! This was a terrific read even though I probably only understood 1/3rd of it. Ignition! By John D. Clark https://www.amazon.com/Ignition-audiobook/dp/B07CTW1M9D/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=3GDUUUD5ERNNJ&keywords=ignition+book&qid=1691022984&sprefix=ignition+book%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-1 https://www.amazon.com/Ignition-audiobook/dp/B07CTW1M9D/ref=... Or, maybe you’ve already read it, in which case: great job. Maybe someone else will see this comment and enjoy it. I don’t want to spoil if for you, but I loved the last paragraph. I believe a new heroic age for the field is dawning.
- alephnerd 3y ago
  Oh dang! This has been on my reading list for years! Definetly looking forward to checking it out!!!
  - jeremiahbuckley 3y ago
    My last chemistry class was in high school, so I had to glide over a lot of the details. But the story is still awesome even with liberal skimming of chem reaction details. This book is probably helping me cope with the extreme confusion of all the various LK-99 attempts. Like, it's going to be a hugely messy confusion and slog with lots of results that are "blend-A can meet 5 of the 7 requirements, but not the important ones. blend-B can meet 3 of the 7, but one of the important ones. blend-C looks very promising but doesn't quite meet any of the requirements." for... years.