Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Lithium perchlorate flash powder

DubaiAmateurRocketry - 10-8-2013 at 10:37

because no one else made an demonstration of this perchlorate salt, just trying out :)

The sparks are red and beautiful, and molten oxides remains brightly.

It may be hard to ignite since lithium perchlorate melts before decomposition and burning, it can also explode sometimes, so take care, it is also very hygroscopic, you better set it off in no t time or you end up in a wet mud :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1T0-hNZpG0

[Edited on 10-8-2013 by DubaiAmateurRocketry]

argyrium - 10-8-2013 at 12:14

Neat clip, thanks.

If your torch's ignitor is a piezo type, it is probably screwed. They do not like this type of environment ;-)

AgClO4 and Mg behave similarly and you don't need to light them -

be careful.

hyfalcon - 10-8-2013 at 13:40

I don't know if I would be burning any lithium compounds indoors or not. There has to be residual lithium in any smoke that's given off.

DubaiAmateurRocketry - 10-8-2013 at 13:45

Quote: Originally posted by hyfalcon  
I don't know if I would be burning any lithium compounds indoors or not. There has to be residual lithium in any smoke that's given off.


Well yes the LiCl is in the smoke, but this is 0.3 grams of flash powder, in which 0.15 grams is Lithium perchlorate, and around 0.06 grams of LiCl is produced, but the LD50 for Lithium perchlorate is way above that, any ways, i had my windows open, thanks.

DubaiAmateurRocketry - 11-8-2013 at 07:16

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ22fX6g6JU

This is a mixture of finely powdered Lithium Perchlorate and Hexamine being burned.

The RED flame is very beautiful

kristofvagyok - 12-8-2013 at 01:17

Quote: Originally posted by hyfalcon  
I don't know if I would be burning any lithium compounds indoors or not. There has to be residual lithium in any smoke that's given off.


Lithium is good for your health, at least, you won't get worried about anything after burning such a thing indoors :D
-In pills, they usually use 300mg Li2CO3 once or twice a day for treating depression.

I would point on that Li salts are hygroscopic and mixing hygroscopic oxidizing salts with highly active metal powders is not always a good idea.

bfesser - 12-8-2013 at 05:55

Quote: Originally posted by kristofvagyok  
In pills, they usually use 300mg Li2CO3 once or twice a day for treating depression.
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_carbonate" target="_blank">Lithium carbonate</a> <img src="../scipics/_wiki.png" /> is <em>not</em> prescribed in the United States, as least not for the treatment of depression. From my understanding, however, it's still sometimes used for the treatment of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder" target="_blank">bipolar disorder</a> <img src="../scipics/_wiki.png" />.

watson.fawkes - 12-8-2013 at 07:12

Quote: Originally posted by bfesser  
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_carbonate" target="_blank">Lithium carbonate</a> <img src="../scipics/_wiki.png" /> is <em>not</em> prescribed in the United States, as least not for the treatment of depression.
The Wikipedia page on lithium as a medication is rather more informative.

Fantasma4500 - 12-8-2013 at 08:11

wow so i really had pure LiClO4..
i thought something went shit with mine, it was a shower of sparks?? :D
explains alot never expected MP to cause such effect

woelen - 12-8-2013 at 12:25

Nice to see this kind of experiments. LiClO4 is quite a special chemical. Normally, the only available perchlorates are the potassium salt and sometimes the ammonium salt or sodium salt.

I think that the health risks of working with this chemical are only moderate. If you work with it daily, then of course you may get affected by the lithium in the smoke, but if you inhale a little whiff of the (dilute) smoke for a few times I do not expect adverse effects. Just use common sense and avoid as much as possible inhaling the smoke, just as you would try to avoid inhaling the smoke of any fire, but there is no need to have protection against the smoke at any cost.

watson.fawkes - 13-8-2013 at 04:34

Quote: Originally posted by woelen  
I think that the health risks of working with this chemical are only moderate.
Per the Wikipedia page on Li as a medication I quoted above, daily dose rates start at 400 mg per day and are adjusted upwards from there. Even working daily with Li, it's hard to get anywhere near a neuroactive dose by inhaling smoke.

hyfalcon - 13-8-2013 at 05:50

I'm funny about that. I will not do any deflagrations or detonations indoors not matter what scale, period. Personal choice there I guess.