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        riddles >> general problem-solving / chatting / whatever >> sodium bomb
        
(Message started by: iono on Oct 23^rd, 2008, 9:06pm)

Title: sodium bomb
Post by iono on Oct 23^rd, 2008, 9:06pm

Is there a way of making a sodium bomb. or another bomb with an akaline metal? Just wondering.

Title: Re: sodium bomb
Post by Noke Lieu on Oct 23^rd, 2008, 10:08pm

keep wondering then. Probably best for EVERYONE if it just stays at that stage...

Or we could both just quietly remove our posts, and no-one needs know you asked.

Title: Re: sodium bomb
Post by towr on Oct 24^th, 2008, 12:10am

Mythbusters pretty much busted this idea. (I think they were testing McGuyver myths, and tried to blow up a wall with it.)
You can get dangerous explosions using alkali metals, especially cesium and francium (which you'll never be able to get your hand on); but they're not comparable to regular home-made explosives. Too much effort in handling, and not effective.

Title: Re: sodium bomb
Post by rmsgrey on Oct 24^th, 2008, 2:16pm

How exactly do you get a dangerous explosion with Francium?

The most stable isotope has a half life of just over twenty minutes, and if you could extract and purify the entire global supply, you could hold it in your hands (assuming you could manipulate it safely)...

Title: Re: sodium bomb
Post by towr on Oct 24^th, 2008, 2:41pm

on 10/24/08 at 14:16:51, rmsgrey wrote:

How exactly do you get a dangerous explosion with Francium?

By crossing the border to hypothetical-land, the mystical fairyland where all theory works in practice.

Actually, I meant rubidium and cesium; seems I went down one element too far on the periodic table. I hadn't checked.

Title: Re: sodium bomb
Post by towr on Oct 24^th, 2008, 2:53pm

"Mythbusters- Mc Guyver Special Sodium Metal Explosion!" (also features potassium)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=U_XdOmShVhI

Here's rubidium and cesium. Just small amounts, though.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sNdijknRxfU

Actually, I imagine in a sealed container, you might already get quite a punch from sodium.
You can get a pretty good bang with just liquid nitrogen, http://youtube.com/watch?v=65q1TQxi9tI The hydrogen you get from sodium in water should prove even more interesting.

Title: Re: sodium bomb
Post by iono on Oct 24^th, 2008, 8:33pm

after a sodium bomb explodes, ther will be a second explosion from the hydrogen, which wil spray corrosive NaOH on everyone.

Title: Re: sodium bomb
Post by Grimbal on Oct 27^th, 2008, 2:24am

cool!

Title: Re: sodium bomb
Post by ThudanBlunder on Oct 27^th, 2008, 9:05am

on 10/27/08 at 02:24:52, Grimbal wrote:

cool!

Also kewl is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA2B5X0LhMY&feature=related
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOMlmcZGCRk&feature=related