jowrose

Hello, I'm jowrose. Saw this site after google searching something, took a look. Great site, i'm sure i could learn a lot more on this site than at my school library (which is a piece of crap, there are like 7 shelves and that's about it). I like science and math is ok (kinda boring, but i think i'm somewhat decent at it). Chemistry is the best, can't stand physics. at least not regular physics, particle physics is pretty interesting. I honestly dont give a rat's a$$ how long it takes a stupid brick to fall from a building that is 125 meters high if the brick is tossed 15 meters up in the air... So far my garage chemical experiments have been limited to thermite and potassium nitrate concoctions, but i hope to upgrade to a larger variety of things soon...

Just got back from the beach, collected about 2 pounds of impure magnetite. I plan on running my magnets over the magnetite/sand mixture several times to purify it; i have seen pictures of what the pure stuff should look like (it's also the stuff used in etch-a-sketches, i think). I'll post again once the purification is complete, then it's on to the thermite testing...

skylighter is ok, but i find that they're a bit on the expensive side. I got some great quality aluminum powder on ebay, 5 pounds for 25 bucks. Works perfectly in the thermite reaction with Fe2O3, never had to relight any of it. I'm going to get my hands on some magnetite soon though, I'll see how that works out. I've heard that it's safer (less splatter) and even that it burns hotter. I'll have to see for myself. Does anyone know if the ratio between aluminum and iron oxide is different for a magnetite reaction? or is it still 1 to 3?

Yeah, I have recently been experimenting in the fun world of thermite. Bought some aluminum powder and iron oxide on the internet (not as fun as making it all, i know, but i didn't feel like taking a month to make enough rust; tried that before, was a wee bit too frustrating... ). I used magnesium ribbon to light it, and i could get the thermite to light on the first try, every time. I put a piece of solid steel along with the mixture and in about 15 seconds it was liquified. Amazing stuff, that thermite. I have also heard that Fe3O4 was a more stable replacement to the Fe2O3 commonly used in the thermite reaction; it also seems like a more practical solution as it is more easily obtained (in my opinion). However, I have also heard reports of it actually burning hotter than rust thermite. Chemically, does that make sense? Would more energy be released with the splitting of more elements in the compound? I must admite my knowledge of chemistry is somewhat minimal, I plan on taking it this year in high school and going for the AP class senior year. It all just fascinates me. Well, anyways, I am planning on heading out to lake michigan tomorrow, so i'll bring some powerful magnets and see if i can pick myself up a coupla pounds of magnetite. I'll post again in a coupla days with the results of my venture.