More questions for February!

In looking at the pictures i think the copper and the zinc may have melted together. So the copper isn't gone, it's still there mixed in with the zinc. I'm not sure though. I'd have to run tests.

NurdRage

You can answer this on video if you like but please don't feel obligated to do so; you have already answered several of my other questions and I very much appreciate that! :) A few years ago using an ethanol "penny stove" I inadvertently burned the copper cladding off of a US penny (<a href="http://randomer.net/alcohol-stove/alcohol-stove-07.jpg)" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://randomer.net/alcohol-stove/alcohol-stove-07.jpg)</a> while leaving the zinc core (<a href="http://randomer.net/alcohol-stove/alcohol-stove-06.jpg)" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://randomer.net/alcohol-stove/alcohol-stove-06.jpg)</a> partially melted but otherwise mostly intact... Searching on Google only seems to give results about copper as a catalyst for burning ethanol, not the other way around! My question: is ethanol actually a catalyst for burning copper or is something else going on to oxidize the copper but not the aluminium or zinc?

Martel DuVigneaud

How can a chemist be absolutely certain about the contents inside his working vessel? Is there some kind of machine or process (such as spectroscopy) that can identify the exact substance (or mixture of) that the chemist has on his hands, or does he has to rely on his stoichiometry skills alone?

ninja_padeiro

Often time for the home chemist, organic solvents are either cheap and innefective, or hard to purify, such as your toluene video. What merit does using ronsonol lighter fluid have as an organic solvebt, from what I've gathered it's mostly hexane, which is often also referred to as petroleum ether in the lav.

In you last Q&amp;A you stated that you got some chem waste and wanted to recover platinum and iridium. I have coal ash that is supposed to have trace elements and precious metal such as gold, silver, and platinum in the ash. I would be happy to send you some if you want it.

What are the differences between emulsifier, mutable solvent and cosolvent? How is ethanol be classified when used to mix oil into water?

Keith

how would I setup a electrochemical cell to reduce nitroguanidine to aminoguanidine?

I'm taking a ww1 unit at my school and chlorine gas was used as a poison especially during trench warfare. Do you know anything about the production of chlorine gas at the time? Thanks! Ps you planning to do a Bromine synthesis video in the future?

How close have you ever come to disaster in the lab, and what happened?

jason black