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Intoluene posted:It's overblown a bit, really. The only thing we've really been able to say about DDT exposure in humans is a suspected moderate carcinogenic effect and an oral dose LD50 of 113mg/kg in rats. I mean, as far as power poles, there's always that one kid that is going to lick one 
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Oct 21, 2017 21:47
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Goober Peas posted:I mean, as far as power poles, there's always that one kid that is going to lick one That's fair, still, no way a 5 year old licking a pole would even come near a lethal dose, or hell, even one that might make them sick. That said, the carcinogenic properties might have been known and it's still prudent to notify of toxic materials. I'd be more worried about a kid eating the chipped lead paint, personally.
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Oct 21, 2017 22:50
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Was browsing wikipedia and came across some wonderful phrasing:"Cyanogen Iodide Page posted:Generally, cyanogen iodide is used for destroying all lower forms of life. I just started laughing like an idiot.
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Oct 21, 2017 23:13
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Picric Acid is also almost scarily easy to manufacture out of aspirin, nitric, and sulfuric acid. Bonus Fun fact about Nickel Carbonyl! the physical damage it does to the lungs is almost identical to that caused by Legionnaire's Disease!
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Oct 21, 2017 23:28
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Rigged Death Trap posted:Was browsing wikipedia and came across some wonderful phrasing: Ahhh, a bureaucricide! The_White_Crane has a new favorite as of 20:41 on Oct 22, 2017 |
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Oct 22, 2017 20:02
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Regarding DDT, one of the big myths is that Rachel Carson advocated for banning it in Silent Spring. To paraphrase, she said that users of agricultural pesticides should use them responsibly and spray the smallest amount that will be effective rather than spraying as much as possible. It's not something to be afraid of, it's something that has known hazards and limits, and should be handled and used with care.Carbon dioxide posted:There's been quite a few cases of schools finding (the now banned from school labs) picric acid in the back of an old chemicals cabinet. It's stored underwater, but after 30 yrs or so in storage it kinda dries out. When dry it's a bit touchy. Screwing off the lid of the jar can make it explode.
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Oct 22, 2017 22:09
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Speaking of which - there's a lot of holy gently caress in this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiyZiBQjryI
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Oct 22, 2017 23:40
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Goober Peas posted:Speaking of which - there's a lot of holy gently caress in this one North Carolina!!! Gonna raise up! Take your shirt off, wrap it round your hand, make your science teacher go blind
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Oct 23, 2017 05:00
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GWBBQ posted:
I used to help clean out research labs when a prof would move/leave. Typically they'd take or hazmat most of the things before hand so most of the time the worst thing we'd deal with is a little sulfuric acid or some benzene (the benzene was immidately squirreled away to the machine shop, cleans some things way too well) One day find a jar with a slightly corroded top. Gently pick it up, yup... picric acid.... Great *sigh* time to call EHS (our local hazmat group) I tell the older guy who's with me. Him: "how much is in the jar?" Me: Umm... not much? without opening it there's maybe an ounce of liquid and can't tell how much solid? Him: *old guy walks over to the other end of the room and looks out the window* don't call EHS yet. Me: UUUHHHH ok? .... why shou.... go open the dumpster lid... Me:  do what now?Him: You heard me... and go make sure nobody goes out into the loading dock after it's open. Me: ... k...So I go down... open up the dumpster... walk back inside... Phone rings Older guy: Dumpster empty? Me: yea... looks like it got picked up today. Him: nobody out in the loading dock? Me: don't think so... Him: ok CRACK Him: ok loading dock is clear now. head on back up. Dude chucked the bottle out the 3rd story window into the dumpster. He hated EHS paperwork. Only sounded like a big firecracker going off.
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Oct 23, 2017 06:15
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shalafi4 posted:I used to help clean out research labs when a prof would move/leave. Typically they'd take or hazmat most of the things before hand so most of the time the worst thing we'd deal with is a little sulfuric acid or some benzene (the benzene was immidately squirreled away to the machine shop, cleans some things way too well) This sounds like a good way to never deal with airport security ever again.
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Oct 23, 2017 07:09
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shalafi4 posted:I used to help clean out research labs when a prof would move/leave. Typically they'd take or hazmat most of the things before hand so most of the time the worst thing we'd deal with is a little sulfuric acid or some benzene (the benzene was immidately squirreled away to the machine shop, cleans some things way too well) The only place I'd keep Benzene is about 5 miles away from me. 
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Oct 23, 2017 07:30
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Intoluene posted:The only place I'd keep Benzene is about 5 miles away from me. Yeah you would, intoluene.
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Oct 23, 2017 07:34
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Mustached Demon posted:Yeah you would, intoluene. It's just one of those chemicals that my professor said that he'd outright kick an honors/phd student out of their course for suggesting its practical use in a synthesis due to its carcinogenic properties. And yes, my name refers to TNT. The toluene that hates.
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Oct 23, 2017 08:21
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Intoluene posted:It's just one of those chemicals that my professor said that he'd outright kick an honors/phd student out of their course for suggesting its practical use in a synthesis due to its carcinogenic properties. one google later: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzene_in_soft_drinks
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Oct 23, 2017 08:47
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Trauma Dog 3000 posted:one google later: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzene_in_soft_drinks Those are listed in ppb (parts per billion) as tolerable quantities. Usually those tolerances for toxic products are in ppm.
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Oct 23, 2017 08:54
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Intoluene posted:It's just one of those chemicals that my professor said that he'd outright kick an honors/phd student out of their course for suggesting its practical use in a synthesis due to its carcinogenic properties. Toluene is benzene with a hat.  Shits bad. Like it has uses but drat it's bad. Like Scott Pruitt wants to deregulate its uses bad. Chemists used to wash their hands with it...
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Oct 23, 2017 09:00
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Mustached Demon posted:Chemists used to wash their hands with it... According to wikipedia it used to be used as aftershave.
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Oct 23, 2017 13:13
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Goober Peas posted:Speaking of which - there's a lot of holy gently caress in this one The thing that gets me is using safe handling technique while fishing chemicals out of a garbage can. Also - who designed a lab where you have to go through a maze to evacuate?
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Oct 23, 2017 13:40
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The Lone Badger posted:According to wikipedia it used to be used as aftershave. It's a component of gasoline. About 1% of what's in your tank is benzene.
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Oct 23, 2017 13:44
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Goober Peas posted:The thing that gets me is using safe handling technique while fishing chemicals out of a garbage can. I just loved how he went 'nonononononno' *scene cut* 'nonononononononono' *scene cut* 'nonononononononono' *scene cut* 'nonononononononono' *POP* Something tells me he'd been much better off sticking the beaker in the sink and putting something on top of it
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Oct 23, 2017 13:51
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GWBBQ posted:You're leaving out the fun details. It sublimes when dry and forms nastier, more explosive metal salts on contact with metals. Gaseous picric acid hits the metal top of the jar, starts corroding it, and all of a sudden you have a rusty lid coated with picrate salts that are highly sensitive to the kind of friction and shock you would provide by unscrewing a lid covered in rust and salt. OK now whats the other lab shelf hazard with ether and peroxide? There were a few stories about explosive old lab supplies and that was mentioned along with picric acid fakedit: found it Derek Lowe posted:The worst I can think of at the moment happened to a colleague of mine years ago in a biology department. A notice had come out to everyone about old peroxide-forming reagents needing to be disposed of, especially in the non-chemistry labs. The biology lab head involved read this, noted the part about possible crystalline peroxide formation, went over to a cabinet and rummaged around for an elderly can of diethyl ether in the far back corner, and then shook it next to their ear to see if it sounded like had deposited any solid. My colleague who witnessed this bold analytical technique reported to me that it was the first time they’d ever felt the hairs on their head actually lifting up in panic, and also reported that they never wanted to experience that sensation again, if that could be arranged.
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Oct 23, 2017 14:25
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Watermelon Daiquiri posted:Something tells me he'd been much better off sticking the beaker in the sink and putting something on top of it Still watching but probably not. Sodium metal gives off H2+heat on contact with water. Do you really want a concentrated hydrogen explosion in a room full of chemicals in unknown condition?
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Oct 23, 2017 14:34
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God forbid a chemistry lab have a vent hood Again - so much wrong with this scenario. Especially for a math and science school.
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Oct 23, 2017 15:15
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Yeah, any full-sized high school chem lab would have a good at least in the prep room, if not in every lab.
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Oct 23, 2017 23:14
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Nth Doctor posted:Still watching but probably not. Sodium metal gives off H2+heat on contact with water. Do you really want a concentrated hydrogen explosion in a room full of chemicals in unknown condition? All stored in a garbage can 
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Oct 23, 2017 23:30
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Goober Peas posted:All stored in a garbage can High school chem lab trashcan punch is the finest.
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Oct 24, 2017 00:42
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hey guys i've never built a rocket before but for my first attempt I wanna use CrO3 for oxidizer
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Oct 24, 2017 01:15
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At least there won't be a second attempt.
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Oct 24, 2017 02:04
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Benzene is some nasty stuff for sure, but pushing to get a grad student kicked out for the idea of using it is a little extreme. It has a large amount of industrial applications that you really can't get any other way.
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Oct 24, 2017 02:14
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Enourmo posted:hey guys i've never built a rocket before but for my first attempt I wanna use CrO3 for oxidizer Finally something that makes fluorine based propellants look reasonable. (I once had a idea for a rocket powered by molten lithium and xenon fluorides, but I'm not dumb enough to try and build it.)
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Oct 24, 2017 03:57
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Kinetica posted:Benzene is some nasty stuff for sure, but pushing to get a grad student kicked out for the idea of using it is a little extreme. It has a large amount of industrial applications that you really can't get any other way. I cut my grad students throat for mixing baking soda and vinegar. I'm not taking that loving chance
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Oct 24, 2017 10:28
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Trauma Dog 3000 posted:I cut my grad students throat for mixing baking soda and vinegar. I'm not taking that loving chance And I burned Trauma Dog alive because he had baking soda and vinegar anywhere a grad student could find it.
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Oct 24, 2017 11:58
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Kinetica posted:Benzene is some nasty stuff for sure, but pushing to get a grad student kicked out for the idea of using it is a little extreme. It has a large amount of industrial applications that you really can't get any other way. Benzene abd its various ringed and aromatic brethren are cool and good and useful and form the backbone of a shitload of useful drugs and substances.
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Oct 24, 2017 13:53
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Kinetica posted:Benzene is some nasty stuff for sure, but pushing to get a grad student kicked out for the idea of using it is a little extreme. It has a large amount of industrial applications that you really can't get any other way.  
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Oct 24, 2017 15:53
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It's ben zene not benzene 
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Oct 24, 2017 15:59
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Less egregious but reminded of something I chuckle about daily when looking at my shaving gel can. You might notice some aerosol cans are not labeled the same. For example shaving cream and gel have explosive labeling prominently. Look at the ingredients and you figure out why: methane is one of the higher listed propellants. Propellant properties are some voodoo because it's everybody's favorite physical chemistry aspects, solvation and phase change meeting with everybody's favorite business concern, cost. So I assume easier to sell explosive shaving cream than find other cheap compatible propellants.
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Oct 24, 2017 16:52
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LostCosmonaut posted:Finally something that makes fluorine based propellants look reasonable. And I thought my frozen mercury rocket idea was insane.
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Oct 24, 2017 18:42
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Zil posted:And I thought my frozen mercury rocket idea was insane. You can't just throw that out there and not explain it, even just a little bit 
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Oct 24, 2017 18:48
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zedprime posted:Less egregious but reminded of something I chuckle about daily when looking at my shaving gel can. *Like, not terribly poisonous or flammable at ground level, effects on the upper atmosphere notwithstanding The hairspray flamethrower idea's been around a long time, is it the methane that provides the fuel or is the glue itself flammable?
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Oct 24, 2017 18:49
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Phy posted:I'm guessing CFCs were either really cheap or really locally friendly* until we decided that an ozone layer was a good thing to have. They were very safe refrigerants because they're so stable. The fact they're so stable is why they became a problem to the ozone layer in the first place. If you had to choose between Freon and ammonia for your refrigerant, which would you rather have? Of course, HFCs do the same thing but hold on to too much heat and make global warming worse. Maybe people just need to get used to less AC?
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Oct 24, 2017 19:14
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