Sometimes acetylene in a balloon will go off just by static electricity. Not smart to play with that stuff. It doesn’t take much to lose eyes, eardrums or fingers. I have a big tank of acet and it is used for welding, heating and cutting only.
The Works and foil is a very bad idea. So you get a bang. It sprays Hydrochloric acid all over. Breathe the fumes/vapor and you won’t like the result. It will eat up whatever it lands on.
Well, I wouldn’t suggest standing around really close to such a percolating concoction. That’s for sure. surprised nobody mentioned iodine and ammonia speaking of things you shouldn’t probably mix together.
Good point about the static electricity. I think the humid air there might have kept that from happening. Enough pressure will also set the stuff off, as I’m sure you know too.
As I learn a bit more over the years, there are lots of things I won’t mess with these days. It’s a wonder that any of the gang from then survived (mostly) unscathed.