Playing with Alkali

[progbuddy]

This looks fun :p

Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqeVEFFzz7E)

Link 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcUUZZGAbPs&NR=1)

[SgtM]

Nice find. Me likey things that go boom.

[Spawn-Inc]

NICE! i remember seeing potassium in my chem class and i thought it was explosive.

[dfigravity]

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted: BOOM HEAD SHOT!!!! YES! YEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!! BOOOOOOOM!:eek: :eek: :eek:

[xRyokenx]

Sweet! I wish we could've seen the Francium though. :neutral:

[GT40_GearHead]

Sweeeeeeet

[progbuddy]

Sweet! I wish we could've seen the Francium though. :neutral:


They say there's only 400 grams of it on Earth. lol

[GT40_GearHead]

They say there's only 400 grams of it on Earth. lol

why is that ???

[Canadian Eh?]

I dont think i would mix alkali metals with water either!

(unless i had a video camera lol)

[progbuddy]

why is that ???

Because there's only that much on the earth (estimated). It is one of the rarest elements on the periodic table (next to Meitnerium).

[xRyokenx]

Because there's only that much on the earth (estimated). It is one of the rarest elements on the periodic table (next to Meitnerium).


Of course you would know. :D

[DaJe]

Aluminum powder does the same thing if mixed with water. It bonds with the hydrogen causing a rapid expansion of gas, resulting in an explosion.

[onelegout]

why is that ???

Its half-life is VERY short.

[Slug Toy]

Aluminum powder does the same thing if mixed with water. It bonds with the hydrogen causing a rapid expansion of gas, resulting in an explosion.

ehhhh.... not exactly. water is very good at aiding in oxidation. aluminum really likes to oxidize which is why it can be flammable. mixing the two together accelerates an already fast reaction. increase the surface area (meaning use powder and water) and it gets that much more uncontrollable. the hydrogen comes from the energy of the burning aluminum, but it doesnt do any bonding. it just explodes... wonderfully i might add.


Because there's only that much on the earth (estimated). It is one of the rarest elements on the periodic table (next to Meitnerium).

also take into account that the longest lived isotope of francium has a half life of 22 minutes. that explains why theres pretty much none existing. in fact, there SHOULDNT be any. it should all just decompose to lead. the only reason it can exist is because of minerals such as various uranium compounds. the radioactivity of the minerals provides a "stable" environment for francium, but if you try to isolate it... it doesnt work. its never been done.


I dont think i would mix alkali metals with water either!

bah, its not too bad. lithium, sodium, and potassium (which are the only metals you would have a hope of getting a hold of) arent too bad for explosions. you wouldnt be able to get very big pieces, so that pretty much limits the hazard. biggest pieces ive ever seen were maybe 1 cubic centimeter. they just dont make them big for safety reasons. you just wouldnt want to hold any of that stuff in your bare hands. it sucks the water right out of you and causes nice burns.

[DaJe]

ehhhh.... not exactly. water is very good at aiding in oxidation. aluminum really likes to oxidize which is why it can be flammable. mixing the two together accelerates an already fast reaction. increase the surface area (meaning use powder and water) and it gets that much more uncontrollable. the hydrogen comes from the energy of the burning aluminum, but it doesnt do any bonding. it just explodes... wonderfully i might add.

Yeah, I actually couldn't remember why the reaction occured, so I just made some **** up.

[Slug Toy]

thats what im here for... partly. i am a chem vigilante!

[progbuddy]

thats what im here for... partly. i am a chem vigilante!

Me too :)

I love chemistry.