I wish I’d grabbed a photo when I saw this but I thought it might be bad so I threw it away. Hindsight maybe that also wasn’t the best course of action but here’s my story.
Since there are a few ways to make flash cotton. I’ll give the basic ingredients I used but not the instructions. I used ammonia nitrate, sulphuric acid, and 100% cotton balls. I have nitric acid but it’s a pain in the ass to get, and expensive. So, I didn’t want to use it.
Anyway, I made this flash cotton like 3 years ago. I stuffed it all into a glass jar with a metal lid. I mean let’s face it. After you set a couple of pieces on fire, and show your 2 friends. What else can you do with it?
So, I stuffed it all into a glass jar with a metal lid, and forgot about it. Occasionally I’d see it in the kitchen drawer when I was looking for something and think yep there’s that flash cotton I made. I should burn it sometime.
Fast forward to the other day roughly 3 years from when I made it. I was looking for catfish skinning pliers when I found the jar. Only now that metal lid was half dissolved. The cotton was also gone. In its place was a yellow sludge that was growing little yellow crystals.
My initial thought was “hmmmmmmm that don’t look so good. Into the trash with you”. But now I’m curious what the hell happened? Also, maybe the trash wasn’t the best place for that?
I guess I’m just looking for insight.
The corroded lid would suggest that there was sulphuric acid left in your flash cotton. As would the yellow colouration of the dissolved metal and the yellow crystals.
So yes, the trash may not have been the best place. At the very least you’ll probably want to neutralize any remaining acid. Your local waste management company probably also wouldn’t be thrilled about explosive material in the trash. Hazardous substances and all.Yeah, it was kind of a knee jerk reaction. Admittedly, not one of my best moments. Disposing of it like that. Like, after that first experience I have seen some videos where more time was taken to wash and neutralize the acid than was put into the recipe I was following. So, that makes since.
Also. What really was crazy to me was how long it was ok until it wasn’t. I had seen it 2 months previous I know, and it was still fluffyish cotton. So, for 3 years it was fine then dissolved in just a short period of time. Maybe it ate through the lid and moisture from the air sped up the situation.
