symboom - 14-8-2017 at 07:33
Could it be used in a thermite like reaction how strong is it cerium is a strong reducing metal the iron obly being a spectator and not involved in
the reaction
Possible reactions
Ferrocerrium and calcium sulfate
Or calcium chloride cousing a single displacement reaction
Possible thermite reaction with magnesium oxide and condensing magnesium metal vapor in a steel retort
Such as the silicothermic reduction of magnesium
Or uses in organic chemistry a sodium substitute??
[Edited on 14-8-2017 by symboom]
metalresearcher - 14-8-2017 at 12:39
No, FeCe won't reduce MgO to elemental Mg metal. It is too electro positive.
violet sin - 14-8-2017 at 13:20
That and ferrocerium is more expensive than Mg. I mean the novelty of *trying something has its own reward, but you wouldn't be served well by
economy here, IMHO. If your getting it for free, that's a LOT of lighter flints.
Best on eBay was 100g for ~45$ pure cerium:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/371874692384
Or
1/2" x 5" ferrocerium firestarter rod. Actually quite affordable, $2.93 + $1.39 s/h
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Huge-1-2-x-5-Ferrocerium-Rod-Flint-F...
Vs.
0.7"x4"( 18km x 100mm) 99.99% Mg for $2.56 + 0$ s/h cheaper still on a piece basis.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-99-99-Magnesium-Metal-Rod-Mg-18m...
There are vids on YouTube showing ferocerium powder used in an energetic manner, but I'm not into that kind of thing. So I don't know if it's in the
manner you want.
symboom - 14-8-2017 at 14:00
Thanks for the replys I just see ferrocerium as possibly having potential
So more out of convenience in using ferrocerium it would be far more useful in organic chemistry
I suspect ferrocerium to be between
Calcium
Sodium
Magnesium
Barium
Cerium
Aluminum
Zinc
The problem lies in cerium is more reactive in air
Without the iron it is far more reactive than magnesium
But that may only be due to the oxide layer of magnesium compared to cerium
Magnesium reacting with sodium hydroxide
Producing sodium metal which doesnt seem possible
Due to sodium being more reactive
Some reactions drive forward even when they dont seem possible due to one being able to distill off.
Im not sure cerium about its place in the reactivity series
Compared to magnesium I know calcium is able to displace cerium
it is more in cost also not lighter flints magnesium fire starters
There has got to be some use for ferrocerium in an reaction where magnesium wont work and dont have sodium metal
So more out of convenience in using ferrocerium it would be far more useful in organic chemistry
Just to name a few possibilites
Not sure if some would work
Grignard Reaction substituting ferrocerium instead of magnesium therefore not needing a catalyst
High yield
Reduction of nitroguanidine to aminoguanidine
Needing only ferrocerrium
Reduction of chloroform to dichloromethane
Very useful as the dichloromethane I find is like a gel
And always has 3 to 4 things mixed in.
Manganese metal from displacement in manganese sulfate
Zinc metal from displacement of zinc chloride
I have seen ferrocerium powder in energetic compositions
Made it once.
Btw making ferrocerium powder is difficult due to some methods causing sparks best methods I have found is using a dremel with a diamond bit or sand
paper which sometimes sparks.
[Edited on 14-8-2017 by symboom]
[Edited on 14-8-2017 by symboom]
[Edited on 14-8-2017 by symboom]