Remove Coke Can from Coke

I've since learned this appears to NOT be making aluminum trichloride, or at least not any form of it that can become (anhydrous) AlCl3 {perhaps just as well as it sounds interesting but nasty}. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_chloride" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_chloride</a>#Synthesis If Wikipedia is right, this makes Al(H2O)6Cl3 which when heated does not just release the water on heating, but actually decomposes into Aluminum Hydroxide (→ Al(OH)3 + 3 HCl + 3 H2O). It seems if you want AlCl3, you need either CuCl2 as a starting point (which Nurdrage has shown how to make), or do it the hard way with aluminum and either HCl or Cl2 gas at high (~700C) temps. "Hydrated aluminum trichloride is prepared by dissolving aluminum oxides in hydrochloric acid. Metallic aluminum also readily dissolves in hydrochloric acid ─ releasing hydrogen gas and generating considerable heat. Heating this solid does not produce anhydrous aluminum trichloride, the hexahydrate decomposes to aluminum hydroxide when heated."

LFTRnow

I didn't sand the bottom, so thats why i think a layer of plastic, similar to the label itself, might be blocking reactivity as well.

NurdRage

Yeah the bottom and the sides are punched from the same blank so they're made of same metal. The vinyl resin is interesting, It would also mean that indeed, using sodium hydroxide might not be a good idea since such resins are quite susceptible to alkalis, As for passivation, it does happen, but that's why i sanded it down and i used HCl as the acid. HCl creates aluminum chloride and oxychlorides which are soluble and thus break through any passivation layers.

NurdRage

Did you also sand the bottom of the can or only the side? Perhaps there is a coating protecting the bottom as well. If not, It might be interesting to try just sanding the bottom and not the side and see if only the bottom of the can is consumed in the acid.

LFTRnow

FYI: I did a bit of research recently on the materials used in cans, and interestingly the 1) top, 2) tab and 3) bottom w/sides are 3 different aluminum alloys. From what I can tell all are 95% Al or more but they are different. I could not find any evidence the bottom is different from the sides. I thought you might find it interesting, and this supports the theory that it was either thicker or gas buildup that made the difference to the bottom being left behind. As for the plastic, I started with Wikipedia and that led me to the patent. Page 3 on the right side has a table discussing it being vinyl resin and the ratios. A very nice demo you have done here. I actually thought Al wouldn't react with acid due to the passivation effect but clearly it works well! <a href="http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3832962.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3832962.pdf</a>

LFTRnow

hmmm. i think you're right! :)

NurdRage

i'm more worried that the sodium hydroxide might damage the plastic. I'm not sure the composition, but plastics like PET or polyester are damaged by sodium hydroxide. The plastic might rupture before we had a chance to demonstrate it.

NurdRage

Fun little demo. I think that part of the reason the bottom didn't dissolve may have been the concave shape with gas accumulating under it like in a cupola and preventing the acid from reaching the metal.

Silviu T

Was wondering, would sodium hydroxide work better and faster or would it get too hot?

PseudsPie

Ha! That is awesome.

It probably could be consumed. But i wouldn't do it because the residue of the acid around the can and the overpowering smell of HCl would likely ruin the experience.

NurdRage

Just a curious question could you drink this or would the HCl pass right through the can and plastic? Cool I was sort of tired of the same old Sodium videos (they were interesting but I like new stuff- like what CodyDon or Red Nile does. Keep up this style of work Nurdrage.

Daniel Blake Shoemaker