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Author: Subject: An Electric Arc Furnace in a Potato: A Metallurgy Thesis
dennisfrancisblewettiii
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[*] posted on 7-10-2021 at 05:49
An Electric Arc Furnace in a Potato: A Metallurgy Thesis


Author: Dennis Francis Blewett III
Date of authorship: October 7th, 2021

Thesis: An electric arc furnace can be made in a potato for the purposes of smelting metal materials, such as gold, because (1) carbon electrodes of a small enough diameter (such as those found in AAA batteries) should be able to be placed in the holes of a potato while reaching into the area of the potato with metal (such as gold) that has been dropped in from a different hole while (but perhaps not so necessary) allowing the entrance of oxygen from air for combustion/heat generation from a different hole and (2) the structural material of the potato should resist the high temperatures produced by the electric arc without the potato being destroyed 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Discussion:

This process should aid the at-home chemist of whom is interested in isolating a metal, such as gold, for experimental purposes. Perhaps the heated gold may be introduced into a solution of aqua regia for faster than room temperature solubility. Furthermore, the thesis discussed ought to aid those of whom are interested in teaching how gold transitions from a solid state to a liquid state, whereby general heating procedures may take more time than desired.

Thoughts? Anyone interested in falsifying the thesis?


Also, please move thread to "Technochemistry" board if more applicable to that board.

Sources:
1) Two-Point-Four, How To Make Gold Melt, 2012, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMpN-iFh9NE&t=82s>
2) “How Could I Melt a Potato?,” The Naked Scientists, last modified October 28, 2012, <https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/questions/how-could-i-melt-potato>
3) GoldIfound, Melting Gold in a Potato., 2015, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeDEW0bNEX8>
4) TKOR, How To Make An Electrical Arc Furnace, 2015, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTzKIs19eZE>
5) Mr. Login 360, DIY Projects | How to Find a Graphite Carbon Rod from Triple AAA (3A) or AA (2A) Size Battery, 2019, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvpfdtHOmGQ>
6) B.V.R.RAJA et al., “Usage of Oxygen as Chemical Input in Electric Furnace” (Alloy Steels Plant; STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA LTD.,; DURGAPUR 713 208, February 2005), <http://steelworld.com/usage.pdf>

[Edited on 7-10-2021 by dennisfrancisblewettiii]
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