Sciencemadness Discussion Board - List of chemicals available in Brick-and-mortar hardware/pool/automobile/pharmacy/grocery stores (IN PROGRESS)

List of chemicals available in Brick-and-mortar hardware/pool/automobile/pharmacy/grocery stores (IN PROGRESS)

Cou - 7-4-2015 at 14:06

If you have seen anything else, suggest it here
These are not necessarily in pure form, you may have to distill them out.

Acetaminophen: Tylenol

Acetic acid 20%: Plant stores, nurseries, can be concentrated into near-glacial acetic acid after reacting to sodium acetate and then H2SO4 with that

Acetone: Crown's Acetone (says it on the front) hardware stores, also in nail polish remover but not sure about purity

Acetylsalicylic acid: Aspirin (pharmacy)

Ammonium nitrate: Cold packs (pharmacies)

Bismuth Salicylate: Pepto bismol (pharmacy)

Butane: Comes in a spray bottle I believe, and is liquid when injected into ziplock bag

Caffeine: Can be separated from excedrin with acid-base extraction, unless there are common sources of pure caffeine

Calcium Hypochlorite: Powder bleach, buckets (pool store, hardware store)

Copper sulfate pentahydrate: Zep root killer (hardware store)

Dichloromethane: Can be distilled from paint removers (hardware store)

Diethyl ether: Can be distilled from starter fluid

Ethanol 95%: Everclear, pharmacies

Ethylene glycol: Antifreeze (automobile store)

Glycerol: Pharmacies, says on the bottle

Heptane: Can be distilled from starter fluid

Hydrochloric acid 31.45%: Muriatic acid (hardware store)

Ibuprofen: Advil

Isopropyl alcohol 91%: Rubbing alcohol

Methanol: Wood's alcohol or HEET antifreeze (automobile store)

Methylethylketone: Crown's MEK (says it on the front) hardware store

Oxalic acid: at paint stores for bleaching wood

Potassium chloride: Sodium free salt (No-salt) grocery stores

Potassium nitrate: Stump remover

Potassium Permanganate: Water filter in hardware stores (only in some areas)

Propane: Propane tanks

Propylene glycol: Antifreeze (automobile stores)

Sodium bicarbonate: Baking soda

Sodium bromide: Bromine spa tablets (pool stores)

Sodium chloride: Table salt

Sodium hydroxide: Drain cleaners (hardware stores)

Sodium hypochlorite 8.25%: Bleach

Sodium metabisulfite: Stump remover

Sodium nitrite: Ace hardware store, for curing fish

Sulfamic acid: Home depot tile cleaner

Sulfur: Flowers of, in pharmacies, and fertilizers

Sulfuric acid 93%: Drain openers (hardware stores, may have buffers in it)

Toluene: Some paint thinners, Crown's toluene (hardware store)

Trichloroisocyanuric acid: Pool chlorine tablets (pool store, hardware store)

Xylene: Crown's Xylene (says it on the front) hardware store

[Edited on 8-4-2015 by Cou]

[Edited on 8-4-2015 by Cou]

BromicAcid - 7-4-2015 at 14:27

There is always the classic Readily Available Chemicals website:

http://www.hyperdeath.co.uk/chemicals/

And of course the Household Products Database:

http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/ingredients.htm

Cou - 7-4-2015 at 14:52

Quote: Originally posted by BromicAcid

There is always the classic Readily Available Chemicals website:

http://www.hyperdeath.co.uk/chemicals/

Yes, but a lot of those are from photography/pottery/paint shops, which cannot be found in brick-and-mortar form here in texas.

aga - 7-4-2015 at 15:06

Shops generally sell NaCl as well, and KCl to flog to the lo-sodium folks.

In fact, the Shop is full of chemicals !

It's also made of chemicals, as are you, me and the shopkeeper.

(p.s. don't forget the beers)

Magpie - 7-4-2015 at 15:13

CuSO4 pentahydrate (hardware store)
sulfamic acid (Home Depot)
NaNO2 (Ace Hardware in the fishing section)
KMnO4 (as water treatment in some areas, not mine)
oxalic acid (at paint stores for bleaching wood)
sulfur (flowers of, at pharmacy)

I could likely go on and on .....

Do you have a pottery supplies store locally ? They are a cornucopia of inorganic chemicals.

Cou - 7-4-2015 at 15:25

Quote: Originally posted by Magpie

Do you have a pottery supplies store locally ? They are a cornucopia of inorganic chemicals.

None that I know of in DFW area, texas.

[Edited on 7-4-2015 by Cou]

hyfalcon - 7-4-2015 at 15:34

I kind of doubt that.

http://www.texasclay.org/page-714151

http://trinityceramic.com/ceramic-chemicals

[Edited on 7-4-2015 by hyfalcon]

[Edited on 7-4-2015 by hyfalcon]

Zombie - 7-4-2015 at 16:59

So, uh... Cou.

Just give me an approximate time, and date that you first noticed these feelings of negativity.

3904400637_3975cac2b2.jpg - 28kB

bobm4360 - 7-4-2015 at 20:17

Potassium Nitrate and Sodium Metabisulfite are both sold as stump remover.

Regards,
Bob

Bert - 8-4-2015 at 00:34

Sodium carbonate: Washing soda, grocery store

Cyanuric chloride: Pool supply

woelen - 8-4-2015 at 02:19

Cyanuric chloride definitely is not a OTC chemical. You probably mean TCCA, Tri Chloro Cyanuric Acid.

TCCA : C3N3Cl3O3
cyanuric chloride: C3N3Cl3

The latter is a chemical which better can be placed in the class of chemicals like thionyl chloride, phosphorus pentachloride, benzoyl chloride, oxalyl chloride and so on. Not the stuff you usually encounter in a home lab, and certainly not in a hardware store. It is a very reactive chlorinating agent, which replaces hydroxyl groups by chlorine atoms (e.g. converts CH3OH to CH3Cl, CH3COOH to CH3COCl). This cannot be done by TCCA. TCCA is an oxidizing chlorinator.

szuko03 - 8-4-2015 at 06:43

You can find N-heptane in craft stores as adhesive solvent. Comes in handy for recystalizations.

Also all the sulfuric acid I found as drain openers had buffers. It was still active as an acid but unusable for reactions.

Cou - 8-4-2015 at 13:01

Quote: Originally posted by szuko03

You can find N-heptane in craft stores as adhesive solvent. Comes in handy for recystalizations.

Also all the sulfuric acid I found as drain openers had buffers. It was still active as an acid but unusable for reactions.

Heating the H2SO4 from drain opener would deactivate the buffers, right?

Chemosynthesis - 8-4-2015 at 13:42

I don't think heating would deactivate the buffers. I suppose it depends on what they are. Distillation is clearly a tad difficult for many due to the boiling point, but would be my first recommendation. I have seen people on other forums claim adding an oxidizer such as hydrogen peroxide (forming piranha) helps eliminate buffers... but I don't know how scientific that is. Organics and dyes, yes. Buffers? I never bothered to check. Only dye is mentioned here: http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=3722

Amusingly, way back in the day, I remember a few individuals elewhere trying to "prove" the safety of sulfuric and nitric acids, and the fearmongering of chemists, by dipping limbs into it and nitrating fingers and such. I remember one moron was quite full of himself as an "expert" yet clearly didn't know what a buffer was. They tend to be harsh on your pipes without them!

Magpie - 8-4-2015 at 14:24

What are these "buffers" for H2SO4 that I keep hearing about? I don't think Rooto drain cleaner has any such buffers. It seems pure, with a slight orange discoloration, and has been satisfactory "as is" for all my home chemistry. Is there anywhere in the US where Rooto is unavailable?

How can a strong acid be buffered without turning it into something else? It's like "if salt has lost its savor, what can be salted"? Can anyone please show me an equation showing an additive "buffering" H2SO4?

Loptr - 8-4-2015 at 14:36

Quote: Originally posted by Magpie

What are these "buffers" for H2SO4 that I keep hearing about? I don't think Rooto drain cleaner has any such buffers. It seems pure, with a slight orange discoloration, and has been satisfactory "as is" for all my home chemistry. Is there anywhere in the US where Rooto is unavailable?

How can a strong acid be buffered without turning it into something else? It's like "if salt has lost its savor, what can be salted"? Can anyone please show me an equation showing an additive "buffering" H2SO4?

The Rooto in VA is very nice with a slight discoloration.

Sodium Bisulfate : pool supply/hardware store (Ace)
Caclium Chloride : pool supply/hardware store (Ace)
Ethanol, denatured : hardware store
Sulfur : hardware store (Ace; plant supplies)
Cyanuric Acid : pool supply/hardware store (Ace)

* Cyanuric Acid is where everyone gets confused. This confusion seems to keep popping up on this forum. Cyanuric Chloride (chlorine is on the carbon) vs Cyanuric Acid (oxygen is double bonded to the carbon with hydrogen on the nitrogen)

Cou - 8-4-2015 at 14:52

I've been locked out of editing my post.

nowlan - 8-4-2015 at 18:14

Sodium Metabisulfite from home brew beer stores. Not sure what other chems they have.

Cou - 8-4-2015 at 19:08

Can I have editing permission for my original post on this thread?

Hawkguy - 8-4-2015 at 19:29

Hey, uh I'm pretty confused about this post, but if its just things available for any old soul in a supermarket / hardware store, sure.

N - Butanol, sold as paint remover for little models.

With a little work, Lithium from Lithium Ion batteries.

Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate as water purifier.

Iodine from Potassium Iodide tincture (KI in EtOH/ H2O ).

Sodium Tetraborate as Borax.

Sodium Bisulfite is also sold for fishtanks to control pH.

Phosphoric Acid as 'Acid drain cleaner'.

Magnesium Sulfate Heptahydrate as Epsom salts.

Cou - 8-4-2015 at 20:06

Dudadiesel

Magpie - 8-4-2015 at 20:42

Don't forget your neighborhood health food store:

nicotinic acid (niacin)
activated charcoal
33% H2O2
D-glucose (dextrose)

naphthalene (moth balls) - Ace

pharmacy:
glycerol

Grocery store:
sodium dithionite (RIT dye)

Liquor store in selected states

95% ethanol

Chemosynthesis - 8-4-2015 at 20:54

Quote: Originally posted by Magpie

How can a strong acid be buffered without turning it into something else? It's like "if salt has lost its savor, what can be salted"? Can anyone please show me an equation showing an additive "buffering" H2SO4?

Good question. Might be worth finding an MSDS or picking up a bottle to see what it says on the label:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Liquid-Lightning-Buffered-Sulfuric...

I will go buy something similar tomorrow and report back if no one has some nearby.

I never really gave it much thought. Clearly stomach mucus has bicarbonate and protein mediated buffering abilities, though it hardens somewhat on the stomach to form a protective barrier, though this hardly seems applicable here.

hyfalcon - 9-4-2015 at 03:54

This link is in the sticky at the top of this section.

http://www.hyperdeath.co.uk/chemicals/suppliers.php

szuko03 - 9-4-2015 at 07:04

The rite aid by my house has boric acid ill have to see why. I remember seeing it when I was younger and thinking i could make green fire, this was many years ago.

gdflp - 9-4-2015 at 07:16

Boric acid is used as ant/roach killer as boron is quite toxic to them.

Chemosynthesis - 9-4-2015 at 12:51

Very interesting. Seems more dilute or adulterated than I had suspected:
http://www.roebic.com/pdf/DrainFlowMSDS.pdf

Texium - 9-4-2015 at 14:35

In addition to naphthalene mothballs, I've also seen p-dichlorobenzene ones. I didn't buy either type, because they both smell awful and I had no use for either of them. Might get some at some point though (who knows, they might be banned before long).

Magpie - 9-4-2015 at 14:49

Quote: Originally posted by gdflp

Boric acid is used as ant/roach killer as boron is quite toxic to them.

I was under the impression that the fine particle size gets into their joints and they become disabled. I think diatomaceous earth works the same way.

Boric acid is pretty mild stuff chemically. It can be used as an eye wash.

Magpie - 9-4-2015 at 14:52

Quote: Originally posted by zts16

In addition to naphthalene mothballs, I've also seen p-dichlorobenzene ones. I didn't buy either type, because they both smell awful and I had no use for either of them. Might get some at some point though (who knows, they might be banned before long).

I've used the naphthalene moth balls for chemistry - I believe it's produced by sublimation. It's very pure. Both types of mothballs are sold locally for me. I worry that the para may replace the naphthalene type. I should stock up.

Cou - 9-4-2015 at 15:43

Quote: Originally posted by zts16

p-dichlorobenzene

That name scares me! A benzene-based organochloride, and it's suspected to be a carcinogen, no wonder they might get banned.

Quote: Originally posted by Chemosynthesis

Very interesting. Seems more dilute or adulterated than I had suspected:
http://www.roebic.com/pdf/DrainFlowMSDS.pdf

"Appearance and odor: A viscous black liquid with a sulfur odor"

How could 90% sulfuric acid be a viscous black liquid, what are they adding in the other 10%?

[Edited on 9-4-2015 by Cou]

Texium - 9-4-2015 at 15:46

Quote: Originally posted by Cou

Quote: Originally posted by zts16

p-dichlorobenzene

That name scares me! A benzene-based organochloride, and it's suspected to be a carcinogen, no wonder they might get banned.

Stay out of public restrooms then. (it's also what urinal cakes are made out of)

carrant - 10-4-2015 at 22:47

29% Hydrogen peroxide (hydroponics/organics store; in the DFW area LoneStar Hydroponics and Texas Hydroponics both carry it)
38% Nitric acid (hydroponics/organics store; in the DFW area Texas Hydroponics carries it [Dutch Pro PH- Grow in 1L and 5L sizes])
10% Nitric acid (hydroponics/organics store; in the DFW area LoneStar Hydroponics and Texas Hydroponics both carry it as Technaflora)
30% Phosphorus acid (hydroponics/organics store; in the DFW area Texas Hydroponics carries it [Dutch Pro PH- Bloom in 1L and 5L sizes])

Cou - 11-4-2015 at 05:11

Quote: Originally posted by carrant

29% Hydrogen peroxide (hydroponics/organics store; in the DFW area LoneStar Hydroponics and Texas Hydroponics both carry it)
38% Nitric acid (hydroponics/organics store; in the DFW area Texas Hydroponics carries it [Dutch Pro PH- Grow in 1L and 5L sizes])
10% Nitric acid (hydroponics/organics store; in the DFW area LoneStar Hydroponics and Texas Hydroponics both carry it as Technaflora)
30% Phosphorus acid (hydroponics/organics store; in the DFW area Texas Hydroponics carries it [Dutch Pro PH- Bloom in 1L and 5L sizes])

Thank you for listing stores in the DFW area.

carrant - 11-4-2015 at 07:38

Quote: Originally posted by Cou

Quote: Originally posted by carrant

Thank you for listing stores in the DFW area.

You're welcome!

carrant - 13-4-2015 at 22:17

25% Acetic acid (specialty grocery stores;in the DFW area Kuby's German grocery store)

Argentum - 19-4-2015 at 04:36

CaCl2 in moisture absorbents
Activated charcoal in moisture absorbents, also in pharmacies
Sodium bisulfate a pH reducer, sometimes mixed with sodium sulphate.
Citric acid as a pH reducer too
Aluminium sulphate, iron II sulphate, in (garden stores?)
Aluminium potassium sulphate as a water treatment chemical, sold in pharmacies
Methylene blue in pet shops, it is used in fish tanks
Sodium carbonate is used in pH increaser.

[Edited on 19-4-2015 by Argentum]

Deathunter88 - 19-4-2015 at 06:31

Quote: Originally posted by gdflp

Boric acid is used as ant/roach killer as boron is quite toxic to them.

Also quite toxic to humans as well, especially borax. Because borax is metabolised into boric acid in the body, it can easily cause death. Recently in the news a family of 4 died when they mistook borax for sugar.

Cou - 19-4-2015 at 06:51

Nitric acid and phosphoric acid can both be found in hydroponics stores as pH down.

The purest brands of sulfuric acid are Liquid Fire in home depot, and Rooto drain opener in Ace, but I'm not sure if they have buffers or not.

[Edited on 19-4-2015 by Cou]

szuko03 - 19-4-2015 at 16:20

The liquid fire I saw in ace hardware in 2009 had buffers listed as one of the ingredients

violet sin - 19-4-2015 at 16:39

@ Deathunter88: "Recently in the news a family of 4 died "?

quote from wiki, "Borax, sodium tetraborate decahydrate, according to one study, is not acutely toxic.[27] Its LD50 (median lethal dose) score is tested at 2.66 g/kg in rats,[28] meaning that a significant dose of the chemical is needed to cause severe symptoms or death. The lethal dose is not necessarily the same for humans."

IF it was the same, I'd be needing to eat ~229g to pass on or become very sick. basically 132.8ml of solid...

I'm not saying it didn't happen, but could I ask where this occurred? kinda wondering how it was consumed? "... 5 to 20 g/kg has produced death in adult humans...." from wiki for boric acid... ~423g of that on the light side for me, 1,272g on the high side. so this makes me kinda curious because that was a strictly human number for boric acid...

Cou - 19-4-2015 at 17:17

Quote: Originally posted by szuko03

The liquid fire I saw in ace hardware in 2009 had buffers listed as one of the ingredients

I've read that heating it to a boil will deactivate the buffers, i'm not sure about that.

WGTR - 19-4-2015 at 17:57

Sodium Bromide, 99%: ProTeam Mustard and Black magic, 2lb.
Pool supply store

Ascorbic Acid, 100%: NOW Vitamin C Crystals, 8oz.
Vitamin section of health food store

Polyethylene Glycol 3350, 100%: CVS Purelax, 4.1 oz.
CVS

Mineral Oil, 99.9%: CVS brand, 16 oz.

Xylitol, 80%: Ideal No Calorie Sweetener, 2.65 oz.
Grocery store

Sucrose, 100%: Bulk in grocery store

Erythritol, >90% purity?: Swerve All Natural Sweetener, 4.4 oz.
Grocery store

Fructose, 100%: Bulk in grocery store

Dextrose, >95%: Sweet 'N Low packets

violet sin - 19-4-2015 at 19:19

I remember many a person mentioning the $2/2oz. packs of NaBr from wallmart, but I recently saw a larger pack from my local ACE, 2 lb for $5.50. upgrade worth mentioning. sold as a yellow(mustard) algae treatment in swimming pools.( could have possibly been 1lb, can't find the pic I took)

[Edited on 20-4-2015 by violet sin]

Molecular Manipulations - 19-4-2015 at 20:46

Quote: Originally posted by Hawkguy

With a little work, Lithium from Lithium Ion batteries.

How much work are you talking? There's no elemental lithium in Li-ion batteries, cosidering cost and time, it'd be as practical as isolating lithium from bipolar meds.

I think 'buffer' is the wrong term here. Strong acids can't even have a buffer, and it'd be sodium bisulfate if sulfuric was weak.

[Edited on 20-4-2015 by Molecular Manipulations]

szuko03 - 20-4-2015 at 08:17

Quote: Originally posted by Molecular Manipulations

I think 'buffer' is the wrong term here. Strong acids can't even have a buffer, and it'd be sodium bisulfate if sulfuric was weak.

[Edited on 20-4-2015 by Molecular Manipulations]

That is what it is called on the bottle. Sure "buffer" is in fact the wrong word but thats what they are called.

Magnesium Calcium Carbonate

MeshPL - 20-4-2015 at 11:10

Magnesium Calcium carbonate is sold as Dolomite fertilizer in garden stores.

Deathunter88 - 21-4-2015 at 02:48

Quote: Originally posted by violet sin

@ Deathunter88: "Recently in the news a family of 4 died "?

quote from wiki, "Borax, sodium tetraborate decahydrate, according to one study, is not acutely toxic.[27] Its LD50 (median lethal dose) score is tested at 2.66 g/kg in rats,[28] meaning that a significant dose of the chemical is needed to cause severe symptoms or death. The lethal dose is not necessarily the same for humans."

IF it was the same, I'd be needing to eat ~229g to pass on or become very sick. basically 132.8ml of solid...

I'm not saying it didn't happen, but could I ask where this occurred? kinda wondering how it was consumed? "... 5 to 20 g/kg has produced death in adult humans...." from wiki for boric acid... ~423g of that on the light side for me, 1,272g on the high side. so this makes me kinda curious because that was a strictly human number for boric acid...

Quote from wiki a few lines later:
But this is highly misleading, as humans have been known to die from amounts only a small fraction of the LD50. "The minimal lethal dose of ingested boron (as boric acid) was reported to be 2–3 g in infants, 5–6 g in children, and 15–20 g in adults", according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Mesa - 22-4-2015 at 22:27

Quote: Originally posted by Molecular Manipulations

Quote: Originally posted by Hawkguy

With a little work, Lithium from Lithium Ion batteries.

Lithium batteries are a different breed to Li-ion batteries.

Lithium batteries contain lithium foil wrapped in itself using a suitably inert electrolyte, generally dimethyl carbonate.

Loptr - 1-5-2015 at 09:58

I found CTAB (cetyl tetramethyl ammonium bromide) available in 1lb quantites for $31.63/lb.

http://www.personalformulator.com/wvss/product_info.php?prod...

jock88 - 2-5-2015 at 13:23

Thanks to youself Loptr I am now having a good hair day.

I think it should be called Cety trimethyl ammonium bromide (not tetra)

Loptr - 2-5-2015 at 17:12

Quote: Originally posted by jock88

Thanks to youself Loptr I am now having a good hair day.

I think it should be called Cety trimethyl ammonium bromide (not tetra)

You are absolutely right, jock88!

Typo... That tetra snuck in there. Lol

[Edited on 3-5-2015 by Loptr]