alkali kills cockroach ?

[fresh]

A simple Q, can pure alkali kill cockroach ? i mean cockroach accidentally eats it and dies.

if i am wrong, PL correct me. thanks.

[EdEarl]

Maybe, it depends on which alkali you mean. Sodium hydroxide (lye) would kill, magnesium hydroxide (in milk of magnesia) probably would not; although, almost anything in large enough quantity can kill, including water.

Edited August 31, 2013 by EdEarl

[fresh]

pure alkali, white powder.

[doG]

pure alkali, white powder.

which one?

[EdEarl]

pure alkali, white powder.

Sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide are all white and can be powder.

[fresh]

Na2CO3

i guess it is also soda.

[EdEarl]

It is listed as 50% lethal to a 1kg rat that consumes 4.09 g of sodium bicarbonate. It is used as leavening in short breads, and people sometimes take it as medicine for an acid stomach. It is not very poisonous.

 

A good way to control cockroaches and ants is to mix a bait of 4:1 peanut butter and boric acid powder. A dilute solution of boric acid is sometimes used as an eyewash. It is not very poisonous to people, but does a good job on insects. If your insects get tired of peanut butter, try a different vegetable (e.g., mashed beans with a little vegetable oil and the boric acid).

Edited September 2, 2013 by EdEarl

[fresh]

thanks EdEarl. Can i do it without bait ? or must I ?

i was told that cockroach is afraid of alkali, isn't it ? conversely, boric acid is acid solid. thanks again.

[EdEarl]

I think the bait works better than spreading the powder. Ants are immune to the powder, but roaches are supposed to be killed by it.