Sciencemadness Discussion Board

carbon tetrachloride explosive

chemrox - 11-9-2008 at 22:51

I wonder why on earth the great Peoples Republic of Kalifornia had proscribed sales of carbon tet. Mystery solved; the stuff makes an explosive mixture with powdered Al. It's an unstable miture so use it within 72 hours.

Cheers,
CRX

Ref: http://www.skepticfiles.org/new/135doc.htm
(I'm sure there are better refs but this is the one I found.)

Sauron - 11-9-2008 at 23:05

The CCl4/Al thing is not news and has been the subject of a previous thread, albeit not as justification for the CA ban.

I believe CCl4 also reacts energetically with sodium metal. I would expect potassium more so, lithium likely, alkiline earts maybe (Ca and Mg clean turnings, say.)

Probably lit. on this.

Formatik - 12-9-2008 at 00:22

Quote:
Originally posted by Sauron
The CCl4/Al thing is not news and has been the subject of a previous thread, albeit not as justification for the CA ban.


It could be may be because it is a suspected carcinogen.
Quote:
I believe CCl4 also reacts energetically with sodium metal. I would expect potassium more so, lithium likely, alkiline earts maybe (Ca and Mg clean turnings, say.)


It does when it is exposed to shock, see Davis, pgs. 402 to 403 in the forum library. There are other halocarbons that react in a similar way. Brethericks also has some literature under aluminium, then in the halocarbons entry.

S.C. Wack - 12-9-2008 at 02:06

I would think that carbon tet is regulated because it is regulated as Montreal Protocol substances with a high ODP are, it is hepatocarcinogenic, and a serious groundwater threat. It has been banned from consumer goods for a long time. I last saw it in 1985.

Sauron - 12-9-2008 at 02:51

I can't even buy it as a lab reagent without a special license I'll never be granted. So I must make my own.

ScienceSquirrel - 12-9-2008 at 03:08

What has the Thai government got against carbon tetrachloride?

Axt - 12-9-2008 at 07:08

The previous thread: http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=5777&a...

Not just the Thai's, checking sigma-aldrich the only price listing is 12X100ML $1,015.00AU, and "sales restrictions may apply" something thats typically reserved for strong poisons or obvious drug precursors.

evil_lurker - 12-9-2008 at 09:08

I think it mainly has to do with environmental concerns... major ozone eater and polluter or something.