Skip to comments.
Explosives Check at German Parliament (saltpeter found)
yahoo ^
| 5/10/02
Posted on 05/10/2002 6:25:29 PM PDT by knak
click here to read article
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21 next last
waiting for the jokes!
1
posted on
05/10/2002 6:25:30 PM PDT
by
knak
To: knak
Doesn't nitrogen have to be added to make it into gunpowder?
To: knak
Salpeter (potassium nitrate), sulfur, and charcoal are the ingredients in black powder.
3
posted on
05/10/2002 6:48:07 PM PDT
by
IronJack
To: IronJack
Well, I know gunpowder makes dandy fertilizer for the lawn.
To: IronJack
Essence of outhouse.
5
posted on
05/10/2002 6:53:46 PM PDT
by
patton
To: bluesagewoman
Well, both potassium and nitrogen are vital ingredients for most turf grasses. I don't know that I'd want an explosive making my bluegrass grow, but it would probably work pretty well.
6
posted on
05/10/2002 7:10:43 PM PDT
by
IronJack
To: patton
Essence of outhouse. Huh?
7
posted on
05/10/2002 7:11:06 PM PDT
by
IronJack
To: IronJack
Uhh, How do I put this......? Saltpeter can be made from bat guano.
a.cricket
To: knak
Isn't it also used the cause impotence? Seem to remember that from summer camp ( could have been rumor)
9
posted on
05/10/2002 7:22:27 PM PDT
by
Vinnie
To: IronJack
Saltpeter, traditionally, was collected by pouring water through outhouse leavings, and then pooling it. The white crystals that form in the water are saltpeter. This is how colonials were able to manufacture their own black powder, by adding sulfer and charcoal. Search the web for recipes - JimRob told me to not mention it again.
10
posted on
05/10/2002 7:23:23 PM PDT
by
patton
To: IronJack
Guess you don't want to know what I did with the shoebox full of magnesium shavings I found in the old metal shop, either...Gosh, I love whiz bangs!
To: another cricket
Understood. I thought the statement was a criticism, and I couldn't imagine what was being criticized.
Never mind.
12
posted on
05/10/2002 7:41:44 PM PDT
by
IronJack
To: patton
LOL! I get it now. Yes, you're absolutely right. Another source of potassium -- potash -- was wood ashes.
By the way, the charcoal does not actually react when gunpowder oxidizes. It simply serves as a medium to sustain the reaction. The sulfur actually oxidizes to sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, but it too provides a slow-burning combustible that sustains the oxidation of the KNO3, which is the primary fulminating ingredient.
One of the best things -- or the worst -- my parents ever did was buying me that chemistry set ...
13
posted on
05/10/2002 7:47:21 PM PDT
by
IronJack
To: bluesagewoman
Guess you don't want to know what I did with the shoebox full of magnesium shavings I found in the old metal shop, either... HAHAHA! Bet that lit up the neighborhood!
14
posted on
05/10/2002 7:48:41 PM PDT
by
IronJack
To: IronJack
LOL. Fun with chemistry.
15
posted on
05/10/2002 7:50:25 PM PDT
by
patton
To: bluesagewoman
When I was at artic school, the Army made the mistake of issueing us grunts magnesium snowshoes - 50 below - look at the pretty fire!
16
posted on
05/10/2002 7:54:15 PM PDT
by
patton
To: IronJack
Suffice it to say, a little dab will do ya really is good advice on some of my gardening projects.
To: IronJack
"Yes, you're absolutely right. Another source of potassium -- potash -- was wood ashes." Mom said that when she was young they made their own soap using this ingredient/method. (she's 85)
18
posted on
05/10/2002 8:09:38 PM PDT
by
blam
To: blam
As I understand it, running water through wood ashes also produces sodium hydroxide, which is commonly known as lye. Lye is a saponification agent, which means it suspends fats and oils, like the oils on your skin. That allows water to more effectively dissolve contaminants on the skin, even though it does strip away much of the skin's natural protection.
Many alkalis -- and sodium hydroxide is one of the classics -- feel slippery to the touch. Thus the slick, "woops" feeling that soap has.
In the old days, the lye came from the ashes, and it was mixed with tallow -- beef or pig fat -- to make the soap. Today's soaps are similar, even if the process is somewhat more refined.
Ain't chemistry grand?
19
posted on
05/10/2002 9:01:54 PM PDT
by
IronJack
To: IronJack
"In the old days, the lye came from the ashes, and it was mixed with tallow -- beef or pig fat -- to make the soap. Today's soaps are similar, even if the process is somewhat more refined. Ain't chemistry grand?
Yup. Sounds like what she said. (Surfactants)
20
posted on
05/11/2002 3:31:18 AM PDT
by
blam
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson