nscheffield
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Old Chemicals
So i do quite a bit of hiking in the North east USA. The property closest to mine has several trash pits from like 1960's and prior. most of the junk
looks like its from the 50's, 40's, and even sooner. i find bottles and jars (unmarked) that seem to contain some sort of chemical compound. (it looks
like copper carbonate paste) i am unsure of what i should do with it, and not 100% sure what it is. Should i clean it up and dispose of it at the lab
(college lab i work/learn at) or should i just throw it in the normal trash if its of no value
I am known as Napalm to my friends, because once i stick you you, you cant get me to stop until i have talked your ear off (or burned it off, which is
actually more likely)
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diggafromdover
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Does it appear to be all the same compound? U2U me if you wish to send a sample.
Enjoying second childhood with REAL chemistry set.
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Great
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I find the same thing here, the stuff is labelled as Copper Oxychloride... Probably not the same stuff as yours, but its a very green cyan colour,
with some variation between samples.
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Amos
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Paris green or other arsenate compounds come to mind. Maybe I'm just romanticizing it but be careful with them either way.
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Great
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Are the bottles made of glass, plastic, or metal? It might not even be a reagent, possibly a baking product, paint, makeup, etc.
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nscheffield
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The bottles and jars are glass. Looks like metal lid (what remains at least)
The substance(s) seem to be close in visual and physical characteristics. Id be happy to send samples to anyone who wants some. It may take a while to
send however. (not sure how much to send)
I am known as Napalm to my friends, because once i stick you you, you cant get me to stop until i have talked your ear off (or burned it off, which is
actually more likely)
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IrC
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It is a toxic fungicide, do not dump in nature.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12177764
"Science is the belief in the ignorance of the experts" Richard Feynman
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j_sum1
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That is if it is copper oxychloride (which is a reasonable guess.)
A pic might be a good idea. But a proper test would be better. No one can recommend a suitable course of action without knowing what it is.
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nscheffield
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Ok. Ill see if i can get a pic of it soon. (college work is got me busy)
I am known as Napalm to my friends, because once i stick you you, you cant get me to stop until i have talked your ear off (or burned it off, which is
actually more likely)
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IrC
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"No one can recommend a suitable course of action without knowing what it is."
This is not logical. The reasonable approach IS to treat it as hazardous to the ecology given an unknown chemical. Logically if one is wrong they have
done no harm to the environment, if not wrong they have spared nature from harm. To do nothing, one could say with an unknown there is a 50/50 chance
nature will suffer harm. Thus I conclude it is more logical to err on the side of caution since this yields the greatest statistical likelihood nature
is protected. Think about it. If one does nothing given unknown chemicals there is at least a 50 percent chance nature suffers. If one disposes of it
properly there is a 100 percent chance nature is protected from further harm if the chemical is indeed a hazard. Put simply by erring on the side of
caution you guarantee nature wins.
"Science is the belief in the ignorance of the experts" Richard Feynman
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nscheffield
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I am unsure if removing the substance will help all that much. some of the jars were broken. but none the less if should be cleaned up regardless
I am known as Napalm to my friends, because once i stick you you, you cant get me to stop until i have talked your ear off (or burned it off, which is
actually more likely)
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