In 1959 or '60 I received a chemistry set for a Christmas present. It was somewhat limited but did include many basic chemicals, flasks, mixing tools, beakers and instructions. Over the next few years I checked out books from school and public libraries, added tools, chemicals and compounds and eventually learned to make several sophisticated (for a pre-teen) compounds. My black powder worked great but "smokeless" gunpowder was beyond my skill level - until I learned how to make nitro!
Testing homemade dynamite in the back yard resulted in Mom terminating my experiments for several months (plus I had to fill in a rather large hole). Eventually, girls became much more interesting than carbon compounds and acids. I think my little brother eventually disposed of my leftover stash of explosives (by making unguided, terminally explosive rockets.)
@Dallas-If you would've continued on with your chemical studies, you could've worked for Dr. Timothy Leary, gotten rich, and still banged lots of chicks.
Any of you guys ever mess around with the real thing?
I had a dynamite licence when I was 18 (for seismic purposes). Out of curiosity (and idiocy) I made one big 'boom' just to see what would happen........ Shit my pants but I didn't do any serious damage.
Ever since, I have had a very healthy respect for explosives.
When I was in high school, one of my favorite science teachers told the class about how he and his friends used to paint a potassium triiodide solution on door frames so when the door was closed, it would make a bang.
My lab partner and I were horrified. "Mr Harvey, what were you thinkinking
When I was in high school, one of my favorite science teachers told the class about how he and his friends used to paint a potassium triiodide solution on door frames so when the door was closed, it would make a bang.
My lab partner and I were horrified. "Mr Harvey, what were you thinking? Tomorrow there will be doors going bang all over the school!". He laughed and said he didn't think so.
The next day, doors all over the school started to go bang. Mr. Harvey got in a bit if heat for that!
My instructors in school seemed to be the occasional crackpot.
However at least they knew what they were doing. When I was in elementary school, one guy came in with liquid nitrogen I believe and said it was safe to pour down our hands. However he said let it run off and don't catch it. I guess it was boiling by the time it went from the container to our hands. It didn't hurt at all.
A chemistry professor shot something above the whole classroom creating a loud explosion. He was demonstrating the power of hydrogen when suddenly combined.
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Testing homemade dynamite in the back yard resulted in Mom terminating my experiments for several months (plus I had to fill in a rather large hole). Eventually, girls became much more interesting than carbon compounds and acids. I think my little brother eventually disposed of my leftover stash of explosives (by making unguided, terminally explosive rockets.)
Had to join Strip Clubbers Anonymous (SCA)
I had a dynamite licence when I was 18 (for seismic purposes). Out of curiosity (and idiocy) I made one big 'boom' just to see what would happen........ Shit my pants but I didn't do any serious damage.
Ever since, I have had a very healthy respect for explosives.
My lab partner and I were horrified. "Mr Harvey, what were you thinkinking
My lab partner and I were horrified. "Mr Harvey, what were you thinking? Tomorrow there will be doors going bang all over the school!". He laughed and said he didn't think so.
The next day, doors all over the school started to go bang. Mr. Harvey got in a bit if heat for that!
However at least they knew what they were doing. When I was in elementary school, one guy came in with liquid nitrogen I believe and said it was safe to pour down our hands. However he said let it run off and don't catch it. I guess it was boiling by the time it went from the container to our hands. It didn't hurt at all.
A chemistry professor shot something above the whole classroom creating a loud explosion. He was demonstrating the power of hydrogen when suddenly combined.