megalomania
May 31st, 2003, 10:57 AM
FadeToBlackened
Frequent Poster
Posts: 201
From: Hell
Registered: MAR 2001
posted 04-16-2001 07:25 PM
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Having recently made my way to rec.pyrotechnics, I couldn't help but notice the 'pyrophoric chemicals'(or something) post. In it, someone described a procedure they saw at school. Making magnesium silicide by heating magnesium with sand, this being accomplished by simply burning magnesium in sand. The resulting compound was then placed in "acidified water" (HCl) to release the pyrophoric silane gas, which bubbles through the acid, and upon popping makes little flashes. Has anyone tried this? I think it would be kind of interesting just to see. Do you think burning a coil of magnesium ribbon in sand would work? I was thinking to use vinegar, but i started thinking that might not work, since monosilane is SiH4, it probably needs the H+ from an inorganic acid..?
endotherm
Frequent Poster
Posts: 164
From: dunno
Registered: JAN 2001
posted 04-16-2001 07:50 PM
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Maybe just highly diluted muriatic acid would do the trick
Frequent Poster
Posts: 201
From: Hell
Registered: MAR 2001
posted 04-16-2001 07:25 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Having recently made my way to rec.pyrotechnics, I couldn't help but notice the 'pyrophoric chemicals'(or something) post. In it, someone described a procedure they saw at school. Making magnesium silicide by heating magnesium with sand, this being accomplished by simply burning magnesium in sand. The resulting compound was then placed in "acidified water" (HCl) to release the pyrophoric silane gas, which bubbles through the acid, and upon popping makes little flashes. Has anyone tried this? I think it would be kind of interesting just to see. Do you think burning a coil of magnesium ribbon in sand would work? I was thinking to use vinegar, but i started thinking that might not work, since monosilane is SiH4, it probably needs the H+ from an inorganic acid..?
endotherm
Frequent Poster
Posts: 164
From: dunno
Registered: JAN 2001
posted 04-16-2001 07:50 PM
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Maybe just highly diluted muriatic acid would do the trick