Sciencemadness Discussion Board
Not logged in [Login ]
Go To Bottom

Printable Version  
Author: Subject: Thallium Azide
siegfried
Harmless
*




Posts: 18
Registered: 15-8-2012
Member Is Offline

Mood: No Mood

[*] posted on 17-8-2012 at 09:25
Thallium Azide


For years I made this azide by reacting thallium sulphate with sodium azide and got the yellowish precipitate. Now I get a white precip which does not explode using a fuse. When I use the same NaN3 with Pb(NO3)2 I get explosive lead azide.

The thallium sulphate is over 10 years old and could be the problem. I prefer thallium azide because it can be stored dry and is not as sensitive as the lead compound. Could my thallium compound degrade to something else? It has the same solubility properties and makes insoluble compounds with NaBr, NaI and NaCl.

Any ideas.
View user's profile View All Posts By User
Motherload
Hazard to Others
***




Posts: 245
Registered: 12-8-2012
Location: Sewer
Member Is Offline

Mood: Shitty

[*] posted on 18-8-2012 at 18:13


Well even if your thallium sulphate did break down ... upon dissolution in water ... it will still provide Tl ion.
How fresh is your NaN3 ?
It could have hydrolized to a mix of Na2O, NaOH and Na2CO3.
Now that could result in a Non-energetic Precipitate of different colour.
I do not believe your Thallium Sulphate would have completely changed oxidation states form 3 to 1 or vice versa and maybe formed a different azide. Sulphates are usually pretty stable.
View user's profile View All Posts By User
SM2
Hazard to Others
***




Posts: 359
Registered: 8-5-2012
Location: the Irish Springs
Member Is Offline

Mood: Affect

[*] posted on 19-8-2012 at 06:58


It would be far more consistent for your NaN3 to degrade over time. But the colour change has me troubled. I looked into colorXtemperature transition states of thallium just to glean. If your Talum is half as radioactive (unlikely but small) as even Kalium, perhaps isotopic change over shorter half lives, and(or) products of bombardment which are especially sensitive. You may be on your way of inventing some new and sensitive detector. Sorry I couldn't help. Don't forget to mail your tailings and as much product as you can find to putin, as he has great use for this, acting just like a Black Widow.
View user's profile View All Posts By User
franklyn
International Hazard
*****




Posts: 3026
Registered: 30-5-2006
Location: Da Big Apple
Member Is Offline

Mood: No Mood

[*] posted on 19-8-2012 at 09:01


Explosively aerosolising Thallium is not conducive to good health

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/821465-overview
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/821465-overview#a0104
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/821465-overview#a0199
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/821465-clinical

.
View user's profile View All Posts By User
SM2
Hazard to Others
***




Posts: 359
Registered: 8-5-2012
Location: the Irish Springs
Member Is Offline

Mood: Affect

[*] posted on 19-8-2012 at 09:19


dunno want to start any new friends, but, ah DUH!
View user's profile View All Posts By User
siegfried
Harmless
*




Posts: 18
Registered: 15-8-2012
Member Is Offline

Mood: No Mood

[*] posted on 21-8-2012 at 18:01


The NaN3 is over 15 years old but a brand new unopened bottle just as old reacted the same way. I will try AgN3 and then use something else to make noise on holidays. KClO4 and Mg work fine when confined as does Pb(ClO2)2 and neither is as sensitive as the heavy metal Azides.
View user's profile View All Posts By User
woelen
Super Administrator
*********




Posts: 7977
Registered: 20-8-2005
Location: Netherlands
Member Is Offline

Mood: interested

[*] posted on 21-8-2012 at 23:30


If you want to use something which makes noise on a holiday party, then I believe that thallium compounds are not suitable at all. Thallium is very very toxic and you do not want to expose other people to smoke, which contains thallium! Use KClO4/Mg instead, this is more or less non-toxic and smoke from this is not really harmful.




The art of wondering makes life worth living...
Want to wonder? Look at https://woelen.homescience.net
View user's profile Visit user's homepage View All Posts By User

  Go To Top