Difference between revisions of "Kewls"

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'''Kewls''' is the label Sciencemadness give to people, often adolescents, who are often primarily interested in energetic materials or other dangerous materials and have little to no interest in actual chemistry. Kewls are related to [[Cooks]] (or kooks).
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{{Whimsy}}
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'''Kewls''' are people, usually adolescents, who are primarily interested in energetic materials and possibly other dangerous materials and have little to no interest in actual chemistry. Kewls are generally considered to be a nuisance to legitimate amateur chemists, similarly to [[Cooks]].
  
 
==How to identify kewls==
 
==How to identify kewls==
Kewls often are interested in synthesizing common explosives, like [[TATP|triacetone triperoxide]], [[MEKP|methyl ethyl ketone peroxide]], or [[flash powder]]. They have little regard for safety and will often brag about making bigger amounts of or more powerful explosives.
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Kewls often are interested in synthesizing common explosives, like [[acetone peroxide]], [[methyl ethyl ketone peroxide]], or [[flash powder]]. They have little regard for safety and are primarily interested in making the biggest "boom" they can, often bragging about making unsafely large amounts of sensitive explosives.
  
Synthesizing toxic gases such as [[phosgene]] or [[phosphine]] is another common interest that has resulted in a death of a Sciencemadness member, Myfanwy.
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Synthesizing toxic gases such as [[phosgene]] or [[phosphine]] is another interest of some kewls which has resulted in a death of a Sciencemadness member, Myfanwy.
  
 
==What to do about them==
 
==What to do about them==

Revision as of 01:57, 16 June 2015

Kewls are people, usually adolescents, who are primarily interested in energetic materials and possibly other dangerous materials and have little to no interest in actual chemistry. Kewls are generally considered to be a nuisance to legitimate amateur chemists, similarly to Cooks.

How to identify kewls

Kewls often are interested in synthesizing common explosives, like acetone peroxide, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, or flash powder. They have little regard for safety and are primarily interested in making the biggest "boom" they can, often bragging about making unsafely large amounts of sensitive explosives.

Synthesizing toxic gases such as phosgene or phosphine is another interest of some kewls which has resulted in a death of a Sciencemadness member, Myfanwy.

What to do about them

Some kewls are actually interested in chemistry - their interest grew out of a fascination for explosives. It may help to direct them to references which are related to their interests.

Others are just interested in explosions, and have little interest in the underlying chemistry.

Since kewls will likely find procedures for conducting their dangerous practices no matter what, it is advised that instead of being ignored, they are provided with the proper information to insure that what they do is safe. One can only hope that in the future they will move on from such dangerous behavior to developing a genuine interest in chemistry.