The speaker discusses their experience with chromel chloride, a chromium-based compound, which they consider their favorite chemical due to its potential for both excitement and danger. They describe a process to create chromel chloride using potassium dichromate and sodium chloride, ensuring the ingredients are well mixed. They then detail the reaction process, which involves the use of concentrated sulfuric acid, and the subsequent separation of chromel chloride from other products.
The speaker also shares their observations and experiments with chromel chloride, such as its reaction with bromine, its reaction with water, and its interaction with various solvents like ethanol, aniline, sulfur, and toluene. They mention that while chromel chloride is potentially explosive, it isn't a huge risk on its own unless it comes into contact with certain chemicals under specific conditions.
Despite the potential dangers and the need for careful handling, the speaker seems to find the chemical fascinating and exciting, and they express a desire to work with it again. They conclude by storing the chromel chloride, emphasizing the need for careful handling and storage due to its propensity to leak.
1. The speaker has worked on different projects over the years and has experimented with various chemicals.
2. Chromel chloride is a chromium-based compound that the speaker considers their favorite due to its unique properties.
3. Chromel chloride is toxic, carcinogenic, highly corrosive, potentially explosive, highly volatile, and has a color close to blood.
4. The speaker describes chromel chloride as having a balance between danger and fun, despite its dangerous properties.
5. The speaker last worked with chromel chloride a few years ago and has been wanting to work with it again.
6. To make chromel chloride, the speaker used potassium dichromate as a source of chromium and sodium chloride as the main ingredient.
7. The speaker used a blender to mix the ingredients and added concentrated sulfuric acid to the mixture.
8. The reaction produced chromel chloride, potassium bisulfate, sodium bisulfate, and water.
9. The speaker filtered the chromel chloride and used a heating mantle to boil out the chromel chloride.
10. The speaker then sealed the flask with a stopper that was pre-coated with sulfuric acid.
11. The speaker noticed solid chunks stuck to the side of the flask and found that letting it sit overnight allowed the solid stuff to separate out.
12. The speaker's yield was 112 grams, based on the amount of dichromate that they started with, which resulted in a 67% yield.
13. The speaker's chromel chloride was so dark that it almost looked black when spread out in a thin layer, but it appeared red when added to a dish in a pipette.
14. The speaker compared the chromel chloride to bromine, another dark liquid, and found that they had different behaviors when added to water.
15. The speaker tested the chromel chloride by burning it, adding it directly to ethanol, and adding it to sulfur.
16. The speaker also added chromel chloride directly to toluene, which resulted in a reaction known as the a